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Bradford Club Series. 



NUMBER SIX. 



THE 



NOR Til E 1{ N I N Y A s T O N 



OCTOBER 1780 



A SERIES OP PAPERS RELATING TO THE EXPEDITIONS PROM 
CANADA UNDER SIR JOHN JOHNSON AND OTHERS 



d)e jfrontters of il?etu gorft 

WHICH WEUE SUI'POSED TO HAVE 

CONNECTION WITH ARNOLD'S TREASON 

PREPARED FROM THE ORIGINALS 
WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 



BY 



e,-^j' 



,^" 



FRANKLIN B. HOUGH 




x I-: ^^' y o w k 

M DCCC LXVI 

V 



SUBSCRIBER'S COPY, 



iVo. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 18G0, 
By John B. Moreau, 

FOR THE BRADFORD CLUB, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Conrt of the United States 
for the Southern District of New York. 



SKVKNTV FIVK COPIKS IMIINTKI). 



^ 






PUBLICATIONS 



BRADFORD CLUB. 



No. I. — Papers concerning the Attack on 

Hatfield and Deerfield . . . 1859 

" II. — The Croakers I860 

" III. — The Operations of the French Fleet 

UNDER Count De Grasse . . . 18G4 

"■ IV. — Anthology of New Netherland . 18G5 

" V. — Narratives of the Career of . 

De Soto in Florida .... 1866 
" VI. — Northern Invasion .... 18GG 

EXTRA number. 

Memorial of John Allan . . - . . 18G4 



THE BRADFORD CLUB. 



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Registers, the chronicles of the age 
They were written in, and speak the truth of History 
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name the Club has adopted, came to this country in 1G82, 



VI 11 TIIK J5RADF0KI) CIAJ15. 

and established his Press in the neighbox-hood of Phihidelphia. 
In 1693 he removed to this City — was appointed Royal 
Printer — and set up his Press "at the Sign of the Bible." 
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he retired from business. He died in May, 1752, and was 
described, in an obituary notice of the day, as " a man ol' great 
sobriety and industry, a real friend to the poor and needy, and 
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tatious Monument to his memory. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Introduction, 17 

Letter from Colonel Bellinger, Sept. 1, 1780, 65 

Letter from Colonel Van Scliaick to Governor Clinton, Sept. 6, 

1780, G7 

Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Jansen to Governor Clinton, 

Sept. 18, 1780, C9 

Letter from Governor Clinton to Lieutenant Colonel Jansen, 

Sept. 18, 1780, 69 

Letter from Governor Clinton to Lieutenant Colonel Newkirk, 

Sept. 18, 1780, 70 

Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Jansen to Governor Clinton, 

Sept. 19, 1780, 71 

Letter from Governor Clinton to Colonel Pawling, Sept. 21, 

1780, 73 

Letter from Colonel J. Newkirk to Governor Clinton, Sept. 23, 

1780, 73 

Letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington, Sept. 1, 

1780, 74 

Letter from General Robert Van Rensselaer to Governor Clin- 
ton, Sept. 4, 1780, 76 

Letter from Colonel Patterson and others, to Governor Clinton, 

Sept. 11, 1780, 77 

Letter from Governor Clinton to persons in Cumberland county, 

Sept. 16, 1780, 78 

Letter from Colonel G. Van Schaick to Governor Clinton, Sept. 

12,1780, 79 

Letter from Governor Clinton to Colonel G. Van Schaick, Sept. 

14, 1780, 81 

2 



\ CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Extract from Uiriiiglon'sUmjal G(tzeUe, Sept. 33, 1780, 81 

Letter from Governor C'linton to General Schuyler, Oct. 3, 1780, 83 

Letter from citizens of Tryon county to Governor Clinton, Oct. 
3, 1780, 83 

Petition from citizens of Tryon county, Oct. 6, 1780, 85 

Letter from Governor Clinton to Colonel Klock, Oct. 11, 1780, 87 

Letter from Stephen Lush to Governor Clinton, Oct. 13, 1780,. . 89 

Articles of capitulation of Fort George, 93 

Letter from Colonel W. Malcom to General Van Rensselaer, Oct. 

13, 1780, 93 

Letter from General Van Rensselaer to Governor Clinton, Oct. 

13,1780, 94 

Reply of Governor Clinton to General Van Rensselaer, Oct. 14, 

1786, 95 

Account of the attack upon Forts Ann and George, from Holt's 

Journal, Oct. 16, 1780, 95 

Letter from Governor Clinton to General Greene, Oct. 14, 1780, 96 
Letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington, Oct. 14, 

1780, 97 

Letter from Captain Sherwood to Colonel Henry Livingston, 

Oct. 17, 1780, 99 

Letter from General Heath to Governor Clinton, Oct. 17, 1780, 101 
Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Veeder to Henry Glen, Oct. 17, 

1780, 103 

Letter from General Robert Van Rensselaer to Governor Clin- 
ton, Oct. 18, 1780, 103 

Letter from Governor Clinton to General Schuyler, Oct. 18, 1780, 105 
Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Barent I. Staats to Governor 

CUnton, Oct. 18, 1780, 106 

Letter from Major J. Lansing to Governor Clinton, Oct. 18, 

1780, 107 

Letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington, Oct. 18, 

1780, 108 

Letter from Governor Chittenden of Vermont to Governor 

Clinton, Oct. 18, 1780, Ill 

Letter from Isaac Stoutenburgh to Governor Clinton, Oct. 19, 

1780 112 



CONTENTS. XI 

Page. 
Letter from General Ten Broeck to Governor Clinton, Oct. 10, 

1780, 113 

Letter from General Ten Broeck to Governor Clinton, Oct. 

19, [1780], 114 

Letter from General Van Rensselaer to Governor Clinton, [Oct. 

19,1780], 115 

Letter from Sampson Dyckman to Governor Clinton, [Oct. 

19, 1780], 117 

Letter from General Robert Van Rensselaer to Governor Clin- 
ton, [Oct. 19, 1780], 117 

Letter from Colonel Lewis Dubois to General Van Rensselaer, 

[Oct. 20, 1780], 118 

Letter from Colonel Lewis Dubois to Governor Clinton, [Oct. 

20, 1780], 119 

Warrant for impressing cattle and flour, 120 

A return of ordnance and stores taken from the British Army 

commanded by Sir John Johnson, Oct. 19, 1780, 121 

Notice of Northern Invasion from Loudon's Paper, Oct. 19, 1780, 121- 

Letter from General Schuyler to Governor Clinton, Oct. 20, 1780, 123 

Letter from Governor Clinton to General Schuyler, Oct. 26, 1780, 125 

Letter from Governor Clinton to Colonel Klock, Oct. 23, 1780, 126 

Letter from Governor Clinton to Colonel Bellinger, Oct. 23, 1780, 126 

Order for garrisoning Frontier Posts, Oct. 23, 1780, 127 

Letter from Colonel Alexander Webster to Governor Clinton, 

Oct. 24, 1780, 128 

Extract of a letter from Captain Jonathan Lawrence, Junior, to 

Colonel Samuel Drake, Oct. 24, 1780, 129 

Memorial from the Inhabitants of Schenectady, Oct. 24, 1780,. . 131 
Letter from Governor Clinton to Ebenezer Russell, Oct. 26, 1780, 132 
Letter from Governor Haldimand of Canada, with lists of casual- 
ties, Oct. 25, 1780, 133 

Address of the Maj-or and Common Council of Albany to Go- 
vernor Clinton, Oct. 26, 1780, 137 

Reply of Governor Clinton to the foregoing address, 139 

Marching orders of Colonel Weissenfels, Oct. 26, 1780, 140 

Letter from General Schuyler to Governor Clinton, Oct. 27, 

1780 140 



Xll CONTENTS. 

Page. 
Letter from General Ten Broeck to Governor Clinton, Oct. 29, 

1780, 142 

Letter from Colonel Lewis Van Woert to General Ten Broeck, 
Oct. 28, 1780, 142 

Letter from Governor Clinton to James Duane, Oct. 29, 1780,. 143 

Letter from Governor Clinton to General Heatli, Oct. 30, 1780, 147 
Letter from General Ten Broeck to Governor Clinton, Oct. 30, 

1780, 1,50 

Letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington, Oct. 30, 
1780, 151 

Letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington, Oct. 31, 

1780, •. 157 

Letter from General Washington to Governor Clinton, Novem- 
ber [5], 1780, 159 

Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry upon the conduct of General 

Robert Van Rensselaer, March, 1781, 164 

Memorial of the Supervisors of Tryon County, 209 

Tabular Summaiy of Casualties in Tryon County, 215 

Index, 217 



PREFACE. 



Few regions have presented more frequent or more tragic examples 
of the horrors of war than did the Mohawk valley during the 
American Revolution. The settlements extending in a narrow strip 
up into the wilderness, more than fifty miles beyond the general 
outline of the frontiers, were exposed on every side and at all times 
to an attack of the enemy, who, favored by long lines of water 
communication, could approach from the north, west or south, strike 
at the most exposed points, and retire before pursuit could be made. 

If we bear in mind that the hostile parties who infested this region 
were often made up of those who had been former inhabitants of the 
valley, or at least were always led by those who had been forced from 
their homes by the events of the war, and were inflamed with the 
fiercest revenge against their former neighbors, whom they often 
found enjoying the property from which they had been driven, we 
may well infer that this partizan warfare would be active, unrelenting 
and cruel. 

The events of this period upon the western frontiers of New York 
could never be forgotten by the survivors or their descendants, and 
most of the traditions gathered from the aged witnesses, or received 
at second hand from their accounts, have passed into written nar- 
ratives, and claim credit as history. Although founded upon facts, 



XIV PREFACE. 

and in tlic main correct, as to tiiiR-, place and circumstances, many of 
these narratives are warped ])y prejudice or inflamed by passion, and 
none of tliem can claim the merit of presenting the motives which 
actuated those who controlled the military movements of the 
occasion, the information upon which they acted, or the difficulties 
they had to overcome. 

The sufferers from an incursion of the enemy could see that no relief 
came, although timely application had been made ; but they could 
not know the reasons that prevented. They knew that the enemy 
had escaped Avith impunity, and might very bitterly complain of the 
result, which, under all the circumstances, absolutely could not be 
prevented. 

This reflection has often occurred to the editor of this volume in 
looking through the public records of the revolution. But, perhaps, 
in none of these are the generalh' received accounts, and the 
inferences derived therefrom, more widely different from truth than 
those relating to the invasions from Canada in the autumn of 1780, 
in which the enemy's main body, under Sir John Johnson, after 
sweeping through the Schoharie and Mohawk valleys, destroying 
every thing left by former invasions and not guarded by force, eluded 
pursuit, and returned with comparatively small loss to Canada. The 
official documents relating to this invasion were found so full and 
ample, that it was thought advisable to collect and preserve them 
together, to the end that history might stand corrected, so far as it 
related to these events, although at variance with every statement 
hitherto published concerning them. 

In arranging these papers, attention has been paid to connection of 
subjects rather than to strict order of time, and the documents have 
been used without abridgment, although sometimes relating to 



PREFACE. XV 

subjects not connected with the prmcipal events in view. It was 
not deemed necessary to extend the series by including the papers 
relating to excliange of prisoners, and other subjects incidentally 
resulting from the invasion described ; but it is believed enough will 
be found to justify the conclusion that no charge of inetficiency, 
cowardice or intentional wrong can be properly laid against those 
acting under the authority of the state upon that occasion. 



" THIS ENTERPRISE OF THE ENEMY, IS PROBABLY 
THE EFFECT OF ARNOLD'S TREASON." 

Gov. Clinton to Gen. Washington, Oct. 17, 1780. 

" IT IS THOUGHT, AND PERHAPS NOT WITHOUT 
FOUNDATION, THAT THIS INCURSION WAS MADE, 
UPON THE SUPPOSITION THAT ARNOLD'S TREACHERY 

HAD SUCCEEDED." 

Washington to President of Congress, Oct. 21, 1780. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The invasion of the Indian settlements upon the 
Genesee by General Sullivan, in the autumn of 1779, 
occasioned great distress among the natives, who were 
driven to seek shelter at Fort Magara. The destruction 
had been sweeping, and the miseries which followed, 
during the hard winter of 1779-80 were severe; but 
although crops and settlements were laid waste, most 
of the Indian warriors escaped, and very naturally 
soon began to meditate plans of revenge. The villages 
of the Oneida tribe friendly to the Americans, were 
menaced during the winter, and while the snow yet 
lay deep in the forests, and the streams were bridged 
withice, the warparties of Brant and Butler began active 
hostilities, along the whole northern and western fron- 
tiers of ISTew York. These incursions, although not 
accompanied by scenes of butchery, like those perpe- 
trated at "Wyoming and Cherry Yalley, were still 
marked with incidents of thrilling terror, and were 
attended with great loss of property ; many prisoners 
were led into captivity, many lives were sacrificed, and 
3 



18 INTRODUCTION. 

the greatest alarm was spread tliroughout the border 
counties. 

The first of their hostile parties appeared on the 15th 
of March, 1780, at Eeimensnyder's Bush, four miles 
north of the Little Falls, where they took Captain John 
Keyser, his two sons and two other prisoners, killed 
one man, burned the captain's house, killed his stock, 
and left his wife and babes destitute. A body of militia 
was called out, but from want of snow shoes could not 
pursue. The party was reported about fifty in number, 
chiefly tories disguised as Indians, and from their tracks 
they appeared to haye come from the country of the 
Five ISTations. It was strongly suspected, that some 
unfriendly Oneidas had been privy to this movement, 
and had harbored the party.^ 

Six days later, about one hundred Indians from 
Canada, with three tories from Ballston and Tryon, 
surprised a small post at Skeenesborough, captured its 
little garrison of thirteen men, killed and scalped a 
man and his wife, burnt several buildings, and retired 
down the lake on the ice, by the way they came.^ 

On the 3d of April, a party of tories and Indians 
said to be sixty in number returned to Eeimensnyder's 
Bush, burnt a mill, and carried oS nineteen prisoners 
from that settlement northward into Canada. On the 
same day, a block-house on the Sacondaga, north of 



1 Clinton Papers, No. 2,751. 

«LeUer of Gen. Abraham Han'Qvo&ck.— Clinton Pupers^o?,. 2,758, 
2,767. 



INTRODUCTION. 19 

Johnstown, was attacked by a party of seven Indians, 
who attempted to set it on fire, hut were prevented by the 
activity and boldness of one man, its sole occupant,^ who 
extinguished the fire and severely wounded one of the 
number. When they had retired, he rallied six others, 
pursued and killed the whole of the invading party. 

On the 7th of April, Brant with a small party of 
tories and Indians, on their way to surprise Schoharie, 
came upon a few men under Capt. Alexander Harper, 
engaged in making maple sugar at Harpersfield. 
Three of the number were killed, and eleven or twelve 
taken prisoners to Niagara.^ It is said that Brant was 
dissuaded from his first design of striking at Schoharie, 
by the fictitious declarations of Captain Harper, that 
large reinforcements had arrived at that place. On 
this expedition. Brant detached a small party which 
fell upon the Minisink settlement, and brought off 
several prisoners. 

Simultaneous with these events, intelligence was 
brought to the commander-in-chief, of preparations by 
the enemy, in the collection of munitions, horses, ves- 
sels and boats, which seemed to indicate an intention 
of operating in force against the American posts on 
the Hudson. 

These events occurring at so early a period, seemed to 



' Solomon Woodward. 

^ CampbeWs Tryon County, 1st ed., 159 : Stone's Life of Brant, ii, 56 : 
Slmms's Sclwharie County, 325. Captain Harper remained a captive till 
November 28, 1782. 



20 INTRODUCTION. 

indicate a troublesome and dangerous summer on tlie 
frontiers. The minds of tlie inhabitants were filled 
with the most gloomy apprehensions, and Colonel 
Yates in writing from Palatine upon the Mohawk, 
intimated, that unless a number of troops sufficient to 
protect the settlements could be sent up, very few of 
the inhabitants in that section would remain. 

" The country," said he, " is very extensive, and lies 
open on all sides to the inroads of the savages. I need 
not describe to you the distresses of such as are obliged 
to abandon their habitations, and the consequent dis- 
tress and inconvenience of such as they fly to for refuge, 
besides the preventing of which, the crops now in the 
ground, and those to be put in, must (I should rather say 
ought to) be saved, or there will be famine to those who 
are now residing here. I have every opportunity to con- 
vince myself, that people have bread for no longer than 
the ensuing harvest. Indeed too many have not that." ^ 

These inroads upon the frontiers, called for active 
measures for the public safety. Guards were stationed 
at various points on the upper Mohawk, and the militia 
were ordered to keep themselves in readiness to march 
at a minute's warning, upon a given signal. 

' Clinton Papers, No. 2,751. Col. Christopher P. Yates, the writer of 
the above, was a leading patriot of Tryon county, and chairman of the 
committee of correspondence at the beginning of the war. He served 
as a captain and afterward as a colonel of militia, and was the first 
county clerk under state appointment. He represented Montgomery 
county in assembly five years, and died on his farm three miles west of 
Canajoharic, and a mile from the river, Jan. 21, 1814, at the age of 
65 years. 



INTRODUCTION. 21 

Before further tracing the events of 1780, we will 
briefly describe the extent of the settlements in Albany 
and Tryon counties, and the defenses then existing for 
their protection. 

The Mohawk valley, at the beginning of the revolu- 
tion, had a population of about ten thousand, scattered 
along in a narrow belt as far west as the present town 
of German Flatts, in Herkimer county. ISTorthAvard, 
the settlements extended to a short distance beyond 
Johnstown. Towards the south, they had reached 
the head waters of the Susquehanna, and in the valley 
of the Schoharie creek, to about seven miles beyond 
Middleburgh. ]N^orthward of Albany, they were thinly 
scattered over the southern and eastern portions of the 
present county of Saratoga, and in Washington (then 
Charlotte) county, to Skeenesborough, now Whitehall. 
Small settlements had been commenced on the western 
shores of Lake Champlain, and considerable, yet widely 
scattered improvements had been made in Cumberland 
county, then claimed by I^ew York, but now included 
in Vermont. At the beginning of hostilities, many of 
the inhabitants decided to support the royal cause, 
especially among the Scotch settlers near Johnstown, 
although loyalists were found in almost every district 
in the colony. 

Their relative number was not large, but their fami- 
lies often remained in the country, a burden upon 
society, and objects of constant suspicion and jealousy 
with those friendly to the American cause. They 



22 INTRODUCTION. 

harbored tlie enemies' spies, procured information, 
and secretly favored Ms movements as opportunities 
offered. Those who had fled to the enemy to bear 
arms for the king, proved the most dangerous and 
vindictive of partizans, being thoroughly acquainted 
with the topography of the country, and familiar with 
every road and stream and valley, that would favor the 
movements of an invading party, or of a lurking foe. 

The invasion of General Burgoyne, from the north, 
and repeated inroads upon the Mohawk frontiers, had 
entirely broken up the feeble beginnings upon Lake 
Champlain, and the thri^dng settlements of Cherry 
Valley, I^ewtown-Martin, Springfield, Harpersfield, 
and Andrustown, southward of the INIohawk. Over 
six hundred persons from Tryon county alone, had 
gone off to the enemy, and hundreds of forms all 
around the borders of civilization, were abandoned 
by their owners, or destroyed by the enemy, leaving 
dreary solitudes in places that had lately been enli- 
vened by industry, and with here and there a heap of 
rubbish to mark the site of what had been a home. 

During the French and Indian wars, fortifications 
had been erected at various points along the frontiers, 
and the troubles of the revolution led to the construc- 
tion of stockades around dwellings at numerous places 
throughout the country, for sheltering of the inhabitants 
in times of danger. 

The number of these outposts having led to a greater 
distribution of the troops available for their defense 



INTRODUCTION. 23 

than was thouglit desirable, the board of war, about 
the middle of March, decided to break up several 
minor stations, including those at Schenectady, Scho- 
harie, Johnstown, Fort Plank, Oneida Castle, Half 
Moon Point, New City, Saratoga, Fort Edward, 
and Skeenesborough. The events upon the frontiers, 
already noticed, induced Governor Clinton to retain 
some of those at Skeenesborough, Fort Plank, Her- 
kimer, Schoharie, and Fort Edward. 

Fort Schuyler, on the site of the present village of 
Rome, was then the most important post on the 
frontier, and of sufficient strength to resist a large 
force.^ During a part of the summer of 1780, it was 
garrisoned b^^ Colonel Van Schaick of the Continental 
troops, but early in September, he was ordered to 
join the grand army, and Major Hughes was left in 
command. It was the frontier post on the jSIohawk, 
and nearly thirt}'- miles beyond the settlements. Fort 
Herkimer on the south bank of the Mohawk, opposite 
the mouth of West Canada creek, and Fort Dayton in 
the present "\dllage of Herkimer, were then garrisoned 
by small bodies of troops. At the former, a company 
of fifteen men had been stationed during the winter 
under Lieutenant John Smith, for the protection of 
military stores. Their time had expired in April, and 
they were clamoring for their discharge. Fort Plain, 



1 A return of artillery at Fort Schujier, made November 23, 1780, 
showed that there were then 23 cannon and G mortars, mostly iron 
pieces and mounted for garrison use. 



24 INTRODUCTION. 

half a mile west of the present village of that 
name, and Fort Hunter, east of the Schoharie creek, 
near its confluence with the Mohawk, were works that 
could oppose a hand attack. In the Schoharie settle- 
ments there were three small forts, and on the northern 
frontier there were forts with feeble garrisons at Lake 
George, Fort Ann, Skeenesborough, Fort Edward, and 
a few other points. Some of these were mere block- 
houses, others were old works in partial ruin, and 
none of them of sufficient strength to resist a vigorous 
assault. 

The territorial divisions of Albany and Try on coun- 
ties as they existed in 1780, will be understood by 
reference to the accompanying map.^ 

The militia of that portion of the state not in the 
power of the enemy, was organized into forty-five 
regiments, of which seventeen were in Albany, one in 
Charlotte, one in Cumberland, eight in Dutchess, three 
in Orange, five in Tryon, four in Ulster, and six in 
Westchester counties. Of these, two were composed 
wholly of exempts, and in addition to the regimental 
organizations above enumerated, there were twenty- 
five companies of associated exempts, whose officers 
had received commissions from the state council of 
appointment. The militia were only called out as 
occasional alarms or invasions made it necessaiy, the 



1 The colonial act dividing Albany and Tryon counties into dis- 
tricts, was passed March 22d, 1773, and amended March 8, 1773, by 
changing the names of the districts as given in the map. 



INTRODUCTION. 25 

duty of guarding the advanced posts, being chiefly 
entrusted to detachments from the Continental army, 
and to levies raised from time to time, and usually for 
but short periods, for the special duty of defending 
the frontiers. 

During the summer of 1779, two distinct corps of 
five hundred men each, had been ordered by the legis- 
lature for this service, and placed under Lieutenant 
Colonels Albert Pawling and Henry K. Yan Rens- 
selaer. To replace these, a law was passed March 
11th, 1780, for raising eight hundred men by detach- 
ments from the state militia, whenever congress should 
declare that these troops should be paid and subsisted 
by the United States. The necessary action was taken 
by congress on the 4th of April, but the levies were 
not raised and organized in time to prevent the mis- 
chief against which they were intended to guard. Yet 
there was no needless delay in perfecting these plans, 
and the correspondence of the period shows, that while 
the inhabitants along the frontiers were trembling at 
the premonitions of coming dangers, the executive Avas 
making every efibrt to meet the emergencies of the 
impending crisis. 

The commander-in-chief was at this time embarrassed 
by the expiration of the period of enlistment of many 
troops in the Continental army, and the governors of 
ISTew Jersey and j^ew York were requested to take 
measures for assembling the militia in case of danger, 
and to detach a portion for garrison duty until a reor- 
4 



26 INTRODUCTION. 

ganization could be efiected. The letters of command- 
ing officers at this period were burdened with complaints 
of the scarcity of provisions, which greatly delayed all 
military movements, and demanded the most active 
exertions to keep the army supplied. 

We will now resume our narrative of events upon 
the frontiers. On the 29th of April, a prisoner taken 
at Skeenesborough, escaped from prison at Montreal, 
and in fifteen days reached home, with intelligence that 
extensive preparations were being made for an invasion 
from Canada. Col. Jacob Klock, on the 12th of May, 
wrote to the governor from Fort Paris, in the Stone 
Arabia settlement, that he had evidence that convinced 
him of the approach of Sir John Johnson towards 
Johnstown, and that Brant with a band of tories and 
Indians, was expected to fall at the same time upon 
Canajoharie. These events would have happened before 
this date, had not the melting snows and spring floods^ 
prevented. The disaftected throughout the valley were 
expecting these movements, and it was rumored that 
considerable bodies of tories had been enrolled, for the 
purpose of joining the invaders when they appeared.^ 



' We have been more minute in stating these facts, to correct an 
error of the late William L. Stone in his Life of Brant. He says, 
" The first blow was as sudden as it was unexpected, especially from 
the quarter -whence it came. On Sunday the 21st of May, at dead of 
night, Sir John Johnson entered the north part of Johnstown — 
* * * ; and so entirely unawares had he stolen upon the 
sleeping inhabitants, that he arrived in the heart of the country' un- 
discovered except by the resident loyalists who were probably in the 
secret." — Life of Brant, ii, 72. 



INTRODUCTION. 27 

These rumors threw the country into the greatest 
alarm, and Col. Van Schaick writing from Albany of 
the 17th of May, informed the governor that he was 
receiving hourly applications from the north and west 
for aid, that the more remote settlements were daily 
breaking up and moving down the country, and that 
unless something was speedily done to check the alarm, 
the whole region west of Schenectady and north of 
Albany would be abandoned. Under these circum- 
stances one half of General Ten Broeck's brigade was 
ordered out, to meet the coming invasion. The regi- 
ments of Colonels Yates, Yan Woert, Schoonhoven 
and McCrea had assembled at Saratoga on the 20th of 
May. On the 18th, troops were dispatched from 
Albany for Stone Arabia, and other reinforcements 
were hastened forward for the defense of the valley 
as they could be assembled. Five full regiments 
were ordered into Tryon county and the Schoharie 
settlements, but as it was still uncertain where the 
blow would fall, they were held in reserve until the 
movements of the enemy could be definitely ascer- 
tained. 

In the meantime Sir John Johnson with a force 
reported as consisting of four hundred whites, from his 
own apjil Butler's regiments, and the regulars with 
two hundred Indians, proceeded in vessels up Lake 
Champlain to Crown Poiut.^ Leaving his boats and 



Clinton Papers, No. 2,893. 



28 INTRODUCTION. 

vessels at the head of Biilwagga bay, under a small 
guard, he striu'k into the forest toward the upper 
Hudson, and from thence following up the Saeondaga 
valley, he appeared on Sunday night. May 21st, at his 
former residence near. Johnstown. There was at this 
period a stockade around the court-house, with a 
garrison sufficient for its defense, hut too feeble for 
hostile movements. Without spending time upon 
this, he detached a part of his force, to proceed further 
down the river and strike the Mohawk at or below 
Tribe's hill. Their route led along familiar roads, 
and through friendly neighborhoods. The invaders 
were minutely informed of every circumstance that 
could favor or impede their movements, and the 
political bias of every inhabitant was well known ; the 
victims of revenge were selected, and the details of their 
operations were arranged. 

A little before daybreak on Monday morning, the 
blow fell, and their course up the valley from Tribe's 
hill to the Nose,^ was marked by scenes of confla- 
gration, pillage and murder ; yet even in this, the hand 
of the destroyer was somewhat stayed, and no violence 
was offered to women and children.^ The houses of 
tories were spared, and great numbers of loyalists 
joined the invaders upon their return towards Johns- 

' A gorge on the Mohawk between the present towns of Palatine 
and Root. 

2 Clinton Papers, No. 2,910. Minute details of this invasion are 
given in Stone's Life ofBrant,\\, 73, and in Blmms's Schoharie County, 
p. 343. 



INTRODUCTION. 29 

town. In the meantime, a quantity of plate and 
treasure which had been buried at the baronial hall 
by a faithful slave, after its abandonment in 1776, was 
recovered by Sir John, and having accomplished the 
main objects of the expedition, he prepared for his 
return to Canada. Excepting ten or a dozen houses 
owned by tories, every dwelling on the route of the 
invaders, on the north bank of the Mohawk, for a 
distance of over ten miles, had been burned ; many 
prisoners were taken, and numbers of negro slaves 
were recovered by their former masters. 

On the evening of the same day, Sir John retired to 
Mayfield, where he encamped. On the first day he 
proceeded seven miles, and on the second fourteen, his 
course being in the direction of Lake Champlain. A 
party of militia under Colonels Harper and Vrooman, 
and a body of troops from Schenectady under Colonel 
Van Schaick, undertook to pursue him, but want of 
provisions delayed their movements until they were 
too late for effect. Governor Clinton hastened from 
Kingston upon the first alarm, and with such troops as 
he could rally in Albany and Charlotte counties, 
marched to Fort George. Ordering Major Allen and 
Colonel Warner to meet him at Ticonderoga, with 
such militia as could be rallied on the Kew Hamp- 
shire Grants, he finally, on the eighth day after 
leaving Kingston, succeeded in crossing Lake George, 
from whence he hastened to Crown Point; but the 
retreating enemy were safe beyond pursuit, having 



30 INTRODUCTION. 

embarked six hours before for St. Joliii.' TLe delay 
in procuring boats and provisions at Lake George had 
disappointed his efforts, and after taking measures for 
covering the frontier against further inroad from 
Canada, he returned.^ 

Public rumor had led to an expectation of an attack 
from the westward under Brant, but if this had 
originally been intended, some event had thus far 
prevented its execution. The protection of the Mohawk 
settlements was, however, of the utmost importance, 
and the condition of Fort Schuyler especially called 
for prompt action on the part of the commander-in- 
chief. The militia of Tryon county had for a long 
period been relied upon for garrison duty at this post, 
and the dangers that hung over their families made these 
soldiers restive under the restraints of this service, and 
anxious to be at their homes for their protection. This 
feeling had increased until it almost amounted to open 
mutin}^, and early in the summer. General Washington 
ordered Colonel Van Schaick with two hundred and 
fifty levies to proceed thither. The recent movements 
of the enemy had appeared to menace his post, and 
common prudence demanded that it should be secured 



1 Clinton Papers, 2,972, 2,973. The governor expressed his gratifi- 
cation at the promptness with which the troops from tlie Grants were 
raised and marched to his aid. 

2 Anecdotes of tliis passage down the hilvcs by Governor Clinton, 
are given by the author of the Sexncjcnary (edition of 1866, p. 177), 
but with a mistake in the time, which is there given as following the 
invasion of October, which forms the principal subject of this volume. 



INTRODUCTION. 31 

against a surprise, and provisioned against danger 
from a siege. The militia who were so discontented in 
garrison, would not be the less reliable for the public 
defense, and they gladly embraced the opportunity of 
guarding the minor posts that were scattered through 
the settlements, and nearer their own homes. Their 
discontent was in no degree inspired by cowardice, 
but by a natural, and perhaps pardonable anxiety to 
be with their families, who were constantly in danger, 
and frequently driven by real or false alarms to seek 
refuge in their block-houses. It was manifestly the 
policy of the enemy to multiply these alarms by their 
small parties, scattered along the borders of the settle- 
ments, and to magnify the fears of the inhabitants. 
In this they were but too well favored by the presence 
of the disaifected families in the country, who were 
willing to give currency to every rumor tending to 
their interests, whether founded upon facts or fiction. 

The larger portion of the Oneidas, and a small part 
of the Tuscaroras, had hitherto remained friendly to 
the American cause; but the influence of British agents, 
and of the other tribes of the Six Nations, was brought 
strongly to bear upon them, to induce their removal 
to Niagara. Sconondo, a leading chief, was imprisoned 
at Niagara, and every argument by way of threat and 
promise, was used to effect this end. Under this 
pressure, and to secure that quiet which was denied 
them in their own settlements, some evinced a willing- 
ness to yield ; and to prevent such a misfortune about 



32 INTRODUCTION. 

four hundred of these people were removed to the 
neighborhood of Schenectady and there supported, at 
the pubhc cost.^ 

The movements of the enemy at New York, and the 
return of Sir Henry Clinton from his successful enter- 
prise against Charleston, were additional sources of 
anxiety, and led to repeated and pressing calls for 
militia to assist in guarding the passes of the High- 
lands. The state legislature, therefore, on the 24th of 
June provided for raising a force by drafts from the 
militia for a period of three months, and General 
Robert Van Rensselaer, who had recently been pro- 
moted from a colonel, to the command of the second 
brigade of Albany county militia, was ordered to 
proceed to Stone Arabia and take command at Fort 
Paris.^ 



1 In July, 1780, Jellis Fonda was a contractor for supplying 390 
rations daily to destitute Oneidas and Tuscaroras at Schenectady. 
The cinders of their camp fires may still be traced on the brow of the 
hills southeast of the city. 

We find nothing among ihe Clinton Papers to justify the statement 
of Colonel Stone {Life of Brant i, 55), relative to the destruction of 
the Oneida settlements by the enemy during the winter of 1779-80, 
and are led to believe, that the removal of these people to a place of 
safety in the interior was a measure of policy, rather than of actual 
necessity from the presence of an enemy. Their country might still 
be justly spoken of as abandoned and laid waste, their industry and 
prosperity as destroyed, and their condition as in every way injured 
and impoverished by the war. 

'^ This was a block-house surrounded by a stockade situated on a 
swell of ground about a half a mile east by north from the churches at 
Stone Arabia in the town of Palatine. The surfoce descends from 
this point northward towards the valley of Garoga creek, and south- 
ward to the Mohawk, and it is the most elevated place within several 



INTRODUCTION. 33 

Early in July larg'c bodies of tlie enemy were reported 
as seen near the old Oneida castle ; but notliing definite 
was discovered, nor is tlieir presence tliere at that time 
certainly known. 

Lurking parties of the enemy were continually 
prowling along the frontiers, and an occasional fire, or 
murder, and the sudden disappearance of individuals 
as prisoners, kept the troops on the alert, and the 
country in frequent alarm. The cultivation of the 
fields, except in the vicinity of block-houses, was 
necessarily abandoned; and the transportation of 
supplies for tlie forts was never attempted without a 
military guard. 

On the 26th of July, a large party of the enemy, 
chiefly Indians, and said to be eight hundred strong, 
under Brant, with several British officers, appeared 
before Fort Schuyler, killed several horses and cattle 
in the adjacent fields, and began a fire of musketry 
upon the fort, which they continued until nine o'clock 
in the evening. The news of this event, reaching 
General Van Rensselaer at Stone Arabia, he imme- 
diately set out for the relief of the place, and for the 
purpose of guarding several bateaux laden with 

miles of the locality. The block-house after being removed and used 
many years as a barn has disappeared, leaving in the open fields only 
a single aged fruit tree to marl? the vicinity of this place of refuge for 
the surrounding settlements. Fort Paris was named in honor of 
Isaac Paris, an English emigrant, who settled in Tryon county a few 
years before the revolution, was naturalized March 20th, 1763, and 
fell in the battle of Oriskany in August 1777, while serving as colonel 
of militia. 

5 



84 INTRODUCTION. 

provisions tlioii on tlicir Avav np tlio river. To assist in 
this sennce, nearly eveiy al)lc hodied man in the 
^ncinity of Canajoharie was called out. It was 
currently reported that the fort was about to l)e 
invested by a force of British regulars, and it was felt 
that every exertion must be made for the safety of 
that important post.^ Threats were also circulated by 
the enemy, that the convoys of tlie boats would be 
attacked, and the cargoes destroyed. 

Meanwhile the savages, having effected this diversion 
from their real point of attack, made a circuit to the 
south (at the same time observing without alarming 
the troops on their Avay up the river), and came down 
on the Canajoharie settlements on the 2d of August, 
stealthily, but with destructive energy. 

This place had been the home of Brant before the 
Avar, and doubtless many of his followers were like 
him, refugees from the places they now saw occupied 
and enjoyed by others. Finding it impossible to 
recover their lost possessions, they resolved to make 
their destruction thorough. 

Scatterin«: his forces so as to set fire to many houses 
at the same instant, the chieftain Brant, began a work 
of desolation with nothing to stay his progress, and in 
a brief space of time, accomplished his mission and 
retired. A report, made two weeks after and upon 
careful inquiry, returned seventeen as killed, two as 



Clinton Papers, No. 3,111. 



INTRODUCTION. DO 

scalped and then living, forty-one prisoners led into 
captivity, fifty-two houses and forty-two barns, a church 
and a grist mill burned, three hundred cattle and 
liorses killed or driven oif, and all the wagons and 
fanning implements burned. Every thing was laid 
waste except the gromng crops, and there remained 
no means of harvesting these. The ruin extended 
several miles along the south bank of the Mohawk. 

A portion of the families found refuge in Fort Plank, 
which was not attacked. ]SIost of the prisoners taken 
were women and children, a few of whom were sent 
back, but the greater portion endured a long and 
painful capti^dty.^ 

The smoke of the burning settlement was seen at a 
distance of four miles, by an armed party in charge 
of some laden bateaux, and by the inhabitants of 
Johnstown ; but before they could hasten to the relief 
of the inhabitants the destruction was complete, and 
its authors on their way to the Susquehannah. A 
branch of this expedition at about the same time fell 
upon a settlement on the Norman's Kill, in Albany 



1 A list of these prisoners with their ages and remarks, is found in 
tlie Clinton Papers, No. 3,127. There were 11 boys, 3 old men, 26 
girls under 20, and 10 women. 

Cornplanter, the celebrated half-breed Seneca chief was in this ex- 
pedition. Among the prisoners taken was his own father, a white 
man named O'Bail. Having marched him ten or twelve miles, he 
made himself known, and allowed him the alternative of joining his 
fortunes with his red son, or of returning home. He preferred the 
latter, and was escorted back in safety to the settlements. — Life of 
Mary Jemison. Stone's Life of Brant', ii, 127. 



36 INTRODUCTION. 

county, and hiinifd twenty houses. General Van 
Rensselaer liavinii: in the meantime delivered his 
charge at Fort Schuyler, returned. Tidings of the 
disaster were quickly conveyed to Albany, and General 
Ten Broeck ordered a large detachment of militia from 
Albany and Schenectady, to hasten up the valley for 
the relief of the distressed inhabitants. 

On the 5th of August, five hundred troops of the 
Massachusetts levies were ordered to march for the 
protection of. the Mohawk settlements,^ and measures 
were speedily taken for supplying the immediate 
wants of such families as had escaped captivity with 
the loss of every thing. The troops as they arrived, 
were stationed so as to protect them in harvesting their 
grain, for present subsistence. 

A period of comparative tranquility now followed, 
and the harvest, which was unusually bountiful this 
season, was secured without further molestation from the 
enemy. On the iirst of September, Colonel Malcom's 
corps was sent by General Washington for the defense 
of the frontiers, and the relief of the German Flatts 
and Fort Schuyler, and a part of the militia who had 
been called out for a short period returned home. 
Vague rumors of danger were, however, at times 
circulated through the country, and small parties 
appeared frequently upon the frontiers, committing 



' The number of Massachusetts troops that were actually sent up 
the Mohawk Yalley, was considerably less than this number. We 
have not met with any specific statements of their force. 



INTRODUCTION. 37 

hostilities as circuiiistaiices favored, but not always 
witli iinpnnit}^ 

One of the most heroic incidents whicli the annals 
of this period record, occurred on the last day of 
August, about four miles northeast of Fort Dayton. 
A party consisting of forty-eight Indians and eighteen 
whites suddenly fell upon a farmer named John 
Christian Shell, who was laboring with his six sons 
in a field. The latter succeeded in reaching their 
house, excepting two little boys eight years old, who 
were captured. The house was built for defense, and its 
occupants including the heroic ^^^fe made a most resolute 
resistance, in which without further loss to themselves, 
they killed eleven and wounded six or seven of the 
enemy. Their leader, one Donald McDonald, being 
wounded at the door, was dragged in by the family, 
and their house thus secured against being burned by 
the assailants. The unequal contest continued several 
hours, when the enemy retired, and the family having 
pro^dded food for their prisoner withdrew to Fort 
Dayton, and the next day the wounded who had been 
left on the premises were brought in,^ A imrty was 
sent in pursuit of the eneni}", but returned without 
success. The two little sons of Mr. Shell returned 
after a long capti^dty. He was himself killed the next 
year by an enemy lurking in ambush. 



^Full details of this event are given in Benton's Ecrkimer County, 
p. 93, but under an erroneous date. A version in rhyme is found in 
CamphelVs Tryon County (1831), p. 71. 



38 INTRODUCTION. 

The difficulties atteiuling- tlie maintenance of the 
arinv, were at tliis period greatly eidianced hy the 
depreciation of the paper currency that had been issued 
by congress, and which liad fallen since the autumn of 
1777, from par to two and a lialf per cent. This 
rendered it necessary for the states to levy taxes in 
kind, for whatever articles were of greatest necessity 
foi- the troops. The governor of jSTew York was 
authorized to issue press warrants for taking cattle, 
flour, grain, teams and labor, as the emergencies of 
the service required; and this harsh expedient was 
employed man}^ times during the summer, when 
prompt action could not otherwise be secured. The 
destitution of the army, which at this time formed a 
most serious obstacle in its operations, was not so much 
due to absolute want of supplies in the country, as to 
difficulties attending their collection and transportation. 

The maintenance of a garrison at Fort Schuyler, was 
regarded as essential to the protection of the Mohawk 
frontier; and the only practicable route for trans- 
portation being the Mohawk river, it was highly 
important tliat the winter supplies should be forwarded 
before the river was closed by ice. The boats used in this 
service always required a convoy, and the na\dgation, 
interrupted by frequent rapids and a portage, was 
attended with great labor. 

The conduct of some of the public leaders in Cum- 
berland county was at this period in the highest 
degree embarrassing to Governor Clinton, and led to 



INTKODUCTION. 39 

serious suspicions of treachery in tlie mind of General 
Washington, The party who were endeavoring to 
estabhsh an independent state government, in defiance 
of the authority of New York, appeared to he in 
communication with the enemy, for purposes which 
could not l)e ascertained, and under circumstances 
which led to the worst conjectures as to their motives 
and designs. The conduct of Colonel Ethan Allen 
was especially censured, and so fiir did these sus23icions 
of treachery gain credit, that the commander-in-chief 
issued orders to General Schuyler, then at Saratoga, 
to arrest a certain iKvson., in the event of certain 
contingencies, which however did not occur. 

These determined advocates of a new state organi- 
zation declared themselves ready for any alliance that 
would favor their end, and under the pretext of 
negotiating for the release of prisoners, engaged in a 
correspondence which has scarcely been justified by 
any apology of their friends. Occurring at this 
juncture, when harmony and confidence were of the 
greatest importance, it proved a source of anxiety and 
embarrassment injurious to the public welfare, and 
encouraging to the enemy. Yet in anticipation of 
coming favors, the enemy spared the inhabitants of 
the " Grants " many of the evils they might have easily 
inflicted, and which were felt with increased severity 
by the unhappy citizens of northern ]^ew York. 

During the early part of the autumn of 1780, the 
return of a scout, or of a prisoner escaped from the 



40 INTRODUCTION. 

enemy, l>rong-lit intelligence from time to time, of 
some hostile design in preparation in Canada; Ijiit 
these rumors were vague and disconnected, and nothing 
transpired to indicate any particular point of danger. 
These rumors might be merely founded upon some 
de^^ce intended to mislead the military authorities, 
and distress the inhabitants with constant alarms, and 
nothing positive could be ascertained relative to the 
intentions of the enemy. Hostile parties appearing at 
mdely distant points, and occasionally a murder, the 
disappearance of a person as a prisoner, or the burning 
of a house, kept the troops at the various stations on 
the alert, and rendered the designs of the enemy more 
difhcult to determine. 

One of these parties appeared at Shawangunk on 
the 18th of September, attacked the house of Colonel 
Johannis Jansen, killed and scalped two young 
women and an old man, and carried away three negro 
slaves. Two regiments of militia were ordered in 
pursuit, but found no trace of the assailants, who were 
believed to be tories, and former residents of the 
district. 

The earlier invasions of this season, and puljhc 
business depending in congress upon the action of 
]^ew York, made it necessary to call an extra session 
of the legislature, which met in Poughkeepsie on the 
7th of September. In his opening message, the 
governor stated the insufficiency of the force on the 
frontiers, for their adequate defense, the embarrass- 



INTRODUCTION. 41 

meuts attending enlistments in the Continental sei*vice, 
tlie destitution of tlie army, and tlie necessity of 
granting more power to congress. Tlie Articles of 
Confederation then under consideration had not yet 
been ratified, and the general congress had hitherto 
been able only to recommend to the several states, 
such measures as it should itself have had the power 
to enforce. This session of the legislature ended on 
the 10th of October, and was chiefly occupied in 
considering the military necessities of the day. It 
levied taxes upon the several counties payable in cattle 
and grain, extended former laws authorizing the 
impress of articles needed in the ser^dce, pro^aded for 
completing the state quota in the Continental army, 
and gave to the governor all needed powers for the 
full control of the militia. 

Under this law, passed September 29th, the governor 
could order into the ser^dce from time to time as he 
might deem necessary, such numbers of the militia as 
might be required for the defense of the frontiers. The 
men were to be drawn by classes, were to be held for 
forty-five days from the time of their assembling, and 
in matters relating to discipline, pay and rations, were 
placed on a par with the Continental troops. The act 
embraced the necessary regulations for enforcing the 
call by fines and forfeitures, for the commutation of 
quakers, and other details necessary for its successful 
operation. 

In view of the exj^osed condition of northern New 
6 



42 INTRODUCTION. 

York, and tlie importance of protecting the supplies of 
that region, upon wliicli the troops mainly relied for 
subsistence during the coming winter ; but before any 
further hostilities were known to be in actual prepara- 
tion, Brigadier General James Clinton was assigned 
by General Washington to the command at Albany, 
and he was authorized by his brother the governor to 
call upon Generals Ten Broeck and Van Rensselaer 
for such assistance as their brigades might be able to 
render in case of need. 

On the 1st of October, General Schuyler informed 
the governor by letter, of certain indications of an 
approaching invasion by way of Lake Champlain, and 
on the 6th, a number of citizens of Tryon county 
united in a petition for immediate assistance, to 
prepare against an attack from the westward. From 
intelligence which had been received, it appeared quite 
certain, that a large force of the enemy under Sir John 
Johnson, Butler and Brant, had six days before left 
Niagara, and w^ere then on their way to Oneida. On 
the 10th, an Indian deserter arrived at Fort Schuyler 
with news that the enemy were approaching in con- 
siderable force, with the view of attacking Stone 
Arabia, and ultimately Fort Schuyler. lie stated that 
they were furnished with mortars and cannon, with 
shells in large quantities ; and to confirm his statement 
he exhibited a five inch shell which he had brought 
with him in his blanket. 

Major Hughes in command at that post, immediately 



INTRODUCTION". 43 

communicated tliis intelligence ; tlie several garrisons 
throughout the valley were placed on their guard 
against a surprise, and detachments of militia were 
called out. 

The force reported as approaching by way of Lake 
Champlain, consisted of about a thousand men, regulars, 
loyalists and Indians under Major Christopher Carleton, 
of the 29th regiment. He came up the lake from St. 
John's vtdth a fleet of eight vessels and twenty-six 
boats, and having landed in South Bay, suddenly 
appeared before Fort Ann on the 10th of October, and 
demanded its surrender. The garrison consisted of 
seventy-five men, ofiacers included, under the command 
of Adiel Sherwood, captain of one of the regiments 
of levies raised the summer previous to reinforce the 
Continental army. He had but a scanty supply of 
ammunition, and being unwilling to exasperate the 
enemy by using what little he had, after a short 
consultation among the officers, he surrendered himself 
and men prisoners of war, reserving only the liberty 
of sending the women and children to their respective 
homes.^ This fort, which was only a block-house rudely 
built of logs and enclosed by a stockade, was burned, 
and marauding parties were sent out, who burnt and 
destroyed portions of the settlements of Kingsbury, 



^ Captain Sherwood had previously been a lieutenant in the 1st 
Continental battalion, but resigned May 16, 1780, and on the 18th of 
July was appointed to the command above stated. In a letter written 
by him while a prisoner, he says that the force appearing befoi'e him 
at Fort Ann, consisted of 778 men, chiefly British regulars. 



44 INTRODUCTION. 

Queensbiiry and Fort Edward.^ The smoke of these 
burnings and the reports of refugees driven in by the 
enemy, gave information at Fort Edward of the ravages 
that were being committed above ; l)ut Colonel Living- 
ston was not in force to march, and no rehef was to be 
had nearer than from the Albany militia.^ 

Major Carleton appeared before Fort George on 
the 11th, but not ^Aithout some loss by the fire of 
the garrison. This post was commanded by Captain 
John Chipman, of the second Continental battalion, 
and his troops about forty in number, were chiefly 
composed of drafts from the militia classes, fi'om 
the neighboring toAvns of Charlotte county. He 
was not in condition for vigorous resistance, or a 
protracted siege ; and no relief being in prospect he 
surrendered upon terms similar to those that had been 
granted at Fort Ann. The prisoners were transferred 
to the vessels on Lake Champlain, and the fort was 
destroyed. Ensign Barrett was permitted to return 
with his family and the regimental books, upon 
giving his parole, and two wagons w^ere allowed for 
the women and children and tlieir effects.^ 



1 Petition for exemption from taxes in Cliarlotte county, Jan. 23, 1781 , 
Legislative Papers, No. 2,422. 

2 Fort Edward was temporarily abandoned upon this occasion, but 
tlie enemj' appeared not to linow it, and made no attempt to occupy 
or destroy it. 

^ 4 deserter named Van Deusen reported a liorrid case of torture 
inflicted upon a soldier in revenge for the death of an Indian ; but 
the charge was repelled in a subsequent correspondence with Colonel 
Gansevoort. The letters exchanged upon this and other subjects, 
are given in Stone's Life of Brant, ii, 129. 



INTRODUCTION. 45 

A branch of this expedition, consisting of about 
four liundrecl regulars, tories and Indians, under the 
command of Major John Munro, a tory, formerly a 
merchant at Schenectady, ha\dng left their boats at 
the head of Bulwagga bay near Crown Point, pro- 
ceeded by an interior route west of Lake George, with 
the original intention, as is believed, of surprising 
Schenectady. Whatever may have been the intended 
point of attack, the information obtained by their 
scouts, or other reasons, decided them to proceed no 
further than the Ballston settlement. 

There was at this time a "fort" of oak logs 
surrounded by a stockade and provided with loop 
holes for musketry. It stood at the southwest corner 
of the square, at Academy hill, and had been 
garrisoned five days before by a small party of 
Schenectady militia. The enemy decided not to 
spend time in attacking this, but found a convenient 
opportunity for surprising several families in their 
houses, and of executing their destructive mission 
uf)on the devoted settlement. 

The first attack was made under the guidance of 
one McDonald, a tory refugee from this neighborhood, 
upon the house of Mr. James Gordon,^ a worth}^ and 



^ General Gordon was at this period a member of assembly, in 
which office he served nine years. From 1791 to 1795 he was in 
congress, and from 1797 to 1804, he was state senator. He died at 
Ballston, January 17, 1810. A brief notice of this revolutionary 
patriot, is found in the Albany Gazette, January 19, 1810. "We are 
indebted to the Hon. George G. Scott of Ballston, for most of the 
above details. 



46 INTRODUCTION. 

influential citizen, whose strong adherence to the Con- 
tinental cause, had made him particularly obnoxious 
to the torics. As his clock was striking the midniglit 
hour on the night of October 16th, he was awakened 
by the crash of windows broken in with bayonets, and 
in a brief space of time he and several persons in his 
employment were secured, and his house pillaged by 
the Indians. Having killed one man, wounded 
another as they supposed mortally, and captured 
twenty-two prisoners in the settlement, they set out 
to return; but lingered for some time in the north- 
west corner of the town. They then retired along an 
Indian trail which led up the Hudson, and along the 
route by which they came. Fearing an attack. Major 
Munro issued an order for the prisoners to be instantly 
killed in case there was the least prospect of their 
being rescued. For this atrocious order, he was 
disgracefully dismissed from the service upon his 
return to Canada. From their first night's encamp- 
ment, three of the wounded prisoners were allowed to 
return, and they narrowly escaped an ambuscade that 
had been laid for the enemy. The party were eight 
days in returning to their boats, from whence they 
continued to Montreal. Mr. Gordon was held nearly 
two years as a prisoner in Canada. 

A party consisting of about two hundred, chiefly 
Indians, under Major Haughton, of the 53d, had set 
out about the same time from Canada, to fall upon 
the upper settlements of the Connecticut valley. They 



INTRODUCTION. 47 

succeeded in burning several houses, and in carrying 
tliirty-two inhabitants into captivity. 

Li the mean time, the enemy who had been reported 
as in force at Oneida Lake, crossed over to the valley 
of the Susquehanna. They here probably received 
reinforcements fi'om Niagara by way of the Tioga 
route, and proceeded up the eastern branch in the 
direction of Schoharie, with the view of surprising the 
posts, and destroying the settlements of that valley. 
This force, under the command of Sir John Johnson, 
was composed of regulars, tories and Lidians, and was 
reported to be from eight hundred to a thousand 
strong.^ Sir John was accompanied by Colonel Butler 
and Captain Brant, and many of his men were 
intimately acquainted with the topography of the 
country through which they were to pass, having 
formerly resided in the valley. 

"We have already noticed that the Schoharie settle- 
ments were at this period protected by three forts. 
The upper fort, completed in 1778,^ was a one story 
dwelling owned by John Feeck, enclosed by a 
stockade, and a breast work. It stood near the 
upper part of the neighborhood known as Vrooman's 
land, about five miles west of south from Middleburgh. 

iTbe enemy's force under Sir John Johnson was reported by 
Governor Clinton, in writing to General Washington about a fort- 
night after, to consist of 750 picked troops from the 20th and 34th 
British regiments, Hessian yagers, Sir John's corps, Butler's rangers, 
and Brant's corps of Indians and tories. 

2 The land on which this fort stood, is now owned, it is believed, by 
a descendant of the proprietor in 1780. 



48 INTRODUCTION. 

The middle fort was at the present village of 
Middleburgh, from which the latter derived its name. 
It stood ahoiit half a mile east of north from the 
bridge, and was built around a two story stone house 
then owned by John Becker. It was a stockade, 
enclosing about half an acre within the pickets, with 
block-houses mounted with small cannon upon two 
of its angles. From its central position it was usually 
the headquarters of the commandant of the Schoharie 
posts, and was at this time garrisoned by about two 
hundred state troops, under the command of Major 
Melancton L. Woolsey.^ This fort was built in 1777, 
and like the former, every vestige has long since 
disappeared, excepting a small part of the original 
building. 

The lower fort, finished in 1778, had also a stockade 



^This officer was appointed major in a regiment of levies for tlie 
defense of the frontiers, on tlie 1st of Julj^, 1780, and subsequently 
became a brigadier general of militia. By an unfortunate turn in 
trade lie became involved, and in 1785, was a petitioner for relief by 
an act of insolvency. On the 7th of March he was appointed county 
clerk of Clinton county upon its organization, and he continued to 
hold this office twenty years. After a long residence in Plattsburgh, 
he removed to Trenton in Oneida county, where he died June 39, 
1819, in his sixty-third year. He was the father of the late Commo- 
dore Melancton T. Woolsey of the navj^. The confidence with which 
Major Woolsey continued to be held by Governor Clinton, and the 
appointments he received at his hand, sutBciently discredit the 
traditional stories that have been published concerning his alleged 
deportment upon the occasion of Sir John Johnson's attack upon 
the middle fort at Schoharie. These statements were evidently not 
reported, or if told were not believed, at that period. 

Major Woolscy's weekly return of the Schoharie ibrts, dated 
September 27, 1780, gave a total of 225, under Captains Lansing, 
Muller, Foord, Poole and Bogart. 



INTRODUCTION. 49 

witli two block-houses moimted with small cannon. 
It enclosed a stone church, still standing a mile north 
of Schoharie Court-house/ and also enclosed an area 
of about half an acre. Along the west side of the 
enclosure were small huts built of rough boards, for 
the accommodation of families, and for the shelter of 
their most valuable effects. It was about six miles 
down the valley, north of the middle fort,^ and was at 
this period commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Volkert 
Yeeder.^ 

The approach of the enemy had been conducted 
with as much secrecy as possible, but two Oneidas 
having deserted, brought in the intelligence of their 
movements. It had been expected that the first attack 
would be made upon the upper fort. 

Early in the morning on the 17th of October, the 
enemy were discovered passing at some distance from 
the upper fort. A signal gun was fired to notif)^ the 
posts below of this movement, and their garrisons 
hastened to make such preparations for defense as 
their situation allowed. JSTo attempt was made by the 
enemy to molest the upper fort ; but finding themselves 
discovered, and secrecy no longer possible, they began 
at once their work of devastation, by setting fire to 



• This building is now owned by the state, and is used as an armory. 
^ Simms' s History of Schoharie County, p. 269-371. 

* This ofBccr was commissioned as lieutenant colonel, April 4 
1778, and resigned March 12, 1781. He was six years a member of 
assembly, and subsequently held the rank of brigadier general in the 
militia. He died February 22, 1813. 

7 



50 INTRODUCTION. 

buildings, barns and stacks of grain. Most of the 
inhabitants had removed their famihes to tlie forts, 
and only went out to the harvest fields armed, and in 
parties of sufficient force to guard against surprise. 
As it was still early in the morning, none had gone 
out, and but few indi\dduals remained at their homes. 
These were chiefly those who secretly s^anpathised 
with the loyalists, and their property was for this 
reason mostly spared by the invaders, but only to 
await destruction at the hands of their indignant 
neighbors, after the enemy were gone. 

It was a cold autumnal day, and the dri\^ng north- 
west vnnd, often laden with sleet, served to fan and 
spread the fires which the enemy set to the abandoned 
property of the settlers. 

Soon after the first alarm, a party of nineteen 
volunteers was sent out from the middle fort, to 
ascertain its cause ; but soon returned, ha^dng narrowly 
escaped being surrounded and cut oif.^ The enemy 
soon ajipeared before the fort, and some skirmishing 
ensued between their advanced forces and small parties 
of the garrison, but without loss on either side. 

Colonel Johnson then l)rought up a small mortar 
and a brass three pounder field piece, and fired for some 



' Simms^s History of Sclioharie County, p. 402. We have principally 
followed this author in the above account, omitting many of his 
details, which were derived entirely from personal recollections and 
traditions received from the families present upon the occasion. We 
are not aware of the existence of any official accounts witli minute 
incidents datins,- at or near the time of these events. 



INTRODUCTION. 51 

time upon the fort, but without material effect. An 
officer and two men were then sent bearina; a white 
flag, but as they approached the fort, they were fired 
upon.^ This checked their advance, and they returned. 
The flag advanced a second and a third time, but was 
each time stopped by a rifle shot from tlie fort, when 
finding further attempt at parley impossible, the firing 
was resumed. The work of devastation havino" been 
completed, and the spirit of the garrison appearing to 
defy an assault, the invaders about three o'clock in the 



^Popular traditions, aud published accounts founded thereon, 
unite in denouncing Major Woolsey as a coward, and in ascribing 
the firing upon the flag, to Thomas Murphy, an intrepid partizan of 
Irish birth, who had formerly belonged to Morgan's Rifle Corps, and 
had remained at Schoharie after his company were withdrawn. 
According to these accounts, Major Woolsey was disposed to receive 
the flag, and to surrender upon any terms that might be offered ; but 
that Murphy, encouraged by the militia ofiicers and the garrison, 
persisted in stopping it with his rifle, and even threatened violence 
to the major, should he venture to attempt a negotiation. It is quite 
probable that the major may have been very unpopular, and the 
ranger a great favorite with the garrison ; but we are not disposed to 
give credit to the extreme statements respecting either of these persons. 
The tendency to magnify the faults of an unsuccessful officer, and 
to multiply anecdotes concerning those who prove themselves ener- 
getic and enterprising in times of danger, is too well known to allow 
us to place dependence upon either, as elements of precise historj". 

We have a forcible illustration of this, in the traditions that have 
been embodied in all the histories relating to General Van Rensselaer's 
pursuit of Sir John Johnson up the Mohawk valley in 1780. Without 
an exception, these are altogether unfavorable to his reputation. 
And yet, a court of inquiry, held soon after, and before which all 
the testimony that enemies could find was produced, failed to detect 
any fault in his measures, and felt itself constrained to report, " that 
the whole of his conduct, both before and after, as well as in the 
action of the 19th of October, was not only unexceptional, but such 
as become a good, active, faithful, prudent and spirited oflJcer, and 



52 INTRODUCrnoN. 

afternoon, desisted from furtlicr hostilities, tiud con- 
tinued tlieir nuireli down tlie valley. 

But two persons were mortally wounded in tlie 
middle fort, while the loss of the enemy is believed to 
have been greater. The little garrison had expended 
most of their ammunition when the enemy retired. 

Several scouts sent out from the lower fort to learn 
the progress of events up the valley returned pursued 
by the enemy, who appeared about four o'clock in the 
afternoon, and passed this fort upon both sides. Several 
sharp-shooters were stationed in the tower of the church, 



that the public clamors raised to his prejudice on that accouut, are 
without the least foundation." 

"We would not, however, in any degree detract from the fame of 
Timothy Murphy, who well deserved the reputation which his ser- 
vices won him during the troublesome times of the revolution. 
Intrepid in the ftice of danger, fond of enterprise, and never quiet, 
while any thing remained to be done involving perilous adventure, 
he passed through the war without wound or capture, inspired the 
enemy with a terror at his name, and earned the gratitude and 
esteem of the community in which he lived. He owed none of his 
success to acquired attainments, and although he could neither read 
nor write, he possessed a native eloquence, which in a rude way had 
its influence upon the public mind. He passed through life respected 
as a man of energetic character and upright intentions, and died at 
his residence near the site of the upper fort, in Middlcburgh, Schoharie 
county, on the 37th of June, 1818. The following epitaph is 
engraved upon his tomb stone : 

" Here too, this warrior sire with honor rests, 
Who bared in Ireedom's cause his valiant breast. 
Sprang from liis half drawn furrow, as the cry 
of threatened Libertj' came thrilling by ! 
Look'd to his God, and reared in bulwark round, 
Breast free from guile, and hands with toil embrowned. 
And bade a monarch's thousand banners yield- 
Firm at the plough, and glorious in the field, 
Lo ! here he rests, who every danger braved, 
Honored and marked amid the soil he saved." 



INTRODUCTION. Oo 

wlio were prepared for effective service, and the enemy 
after firing a few cannon shot, two of which lodged in 
the timbers of the root^ and burning several buildings 
in the neighborhood, continued their march without 
attempting further hostilities at this place, and en- 
camped for the night six miles below. 

Intelligence of the presence of the enemy at Schoharie 
reached Governor Clinton at Albany by noon on the 
17th, and Colonel Yeeder sent another messenger with a 
full account of the destruction of the settlements as 
soon as the enemy had passed the lower fort. Orders 
were at once sent to General Robert Van Rensselaer, 
and measures were immediately taken to rally a force 
of militia suificient for pursuit. The general arrived 
at Schenectady towards evening on the 18th, while the 
horizon towards Schoharie was still glowing with the 
fires set by the enemy the day before, and lost no time 
in consulting upon measures for hastening the march 
of his troops in pursuit of the enemy. He also sent 
word to Colonel Vrooman, directing him to send such 
troops as could be spared from the Schoharie forts, to 
hang upon the rear of the enemy, but to avoid an 
engagement until he could come up. This order was 
faithfully executed. His force at that time was about 
seven hundred men, but more were expected during 
the night. A few head of cattle intended for Fort 
Schuyler were slaughtered, and all the ovens in 

'Mr. John Gebhard, jr., of SclioLarie, has one of these shot in his 
possession. The other is owned by Mr. Simms of Fort Plain. 



54 INTRODUCTION. 

town wore put in requisition to supply the troops with 
bread. 

During the evening, General Van Rensselaer called 
a meeting of the principal citizens, to consult upon 
means for hastening his march, and it was proposed to 
use wagons for transporting them a part of the way ; 
but a sufficient number could not be collected during 
the night, and this plan was abandoned. The troops 
were bivouacked in the suburbs of the town, and as 
soon as they could receive their rations in the morning, 
they began their march up the south side of the river. 
Governor Clinton, who was then at Albany, took 
measures for assembling at once such remaining troops 
and supplies as the country could afford, with the 
view of follomng the expedition, and sustaining its 
movements. 

On the morning of the 18th, the enemy resumed 
their march down the Schoharie valley, and lea\ang 
Fort Hunter half a mile to their right, continued up 
on the south bank of the Mohawk, to a place now 
known as "Willow Basin, a short distance below the 
Nose, where they encamped for the night. Their route 
was marked by a general pillage and burning, with the 
exception of a few houses owned by persons supposed 
to be of loyal sympathies. Most of the inhabitants 
were alarmed of the coming danger,^ in time to escape 



' Some of the dwellings burned upon this occasion were temporary 
log huts, built to replace the houses destroyed in June by Sir John's 
troops. 



INTRODUCTION. 55 

into tlie fields and woods, where tliey witnessed the 
plunder and destruction of their property. A detach- 
ment under Captain Duncan/ crossed to the north 
bank, and destroyed what had escaped the invasion of 
Sir John in May previous, excepting a stone church at 
Caughnawaga that had been built under the patronage 
of Sir William Johnson a few years before the war.^ 

On the morning of the 19th, having forded the 
Mohawk with his main body at Keator's Rift, near the 
present village of Sprakers, they continued their course 
up the north side of the valley, as the south, having 
already been ravaged in August by Brant, had but little 
left to invite destruction. 

General Van Rensselaer continued his march during 
the day with as much expedition as the state of the 
roads would admit, and at night on the 18th, had 
arrived opposite the former residence of Sir William 
Johnson, about twenty miles above Schenectady. He 
there halted to rest his troops until the moon arose, 
and between ten and eleven resumed his march, having 
in the meantime dispatched a messenger to go around 

1 Captain Richard Duncan had formerly lived near Schenectady, 
and died there in February, 1819. He was for a time member of the 
executive council of Upper Canada. 

'^This venerable edifice after being used as a church until quite 
modern times, and afterwards for a short time as an academy, 
unfortunately became the property of an opulent, but avaricious 
citizen, who a year or two since, sold the materials for other building 
purposes. A small part is said to be still left. It stood near the rail 
road, in the lower part of the village of Fonda. It is to be regretted 
that the veneration for things ancient, evinced by Sir John's Indians, 
could not find its counterpart at the present time. 



56 INTRODUCTION. 

ill advance of tlic cuem^^ to notify Colonel Brown at 
Stone Arabia, and Colonel Dn Bois at Fort Plain, (then 
called Fort Rensselaer) of liis approach. He ordered 
them to endeavor to hold the enemy in check until he 
conld come up, when it was hoped that by their 
combined forces, they might be able to capture the 
invaders. 

Colonel Brown, who then commanded at Fort Paris, 
in the Stone Arabia settlement, had under him a 
force of about one hundred and thirty men of the 
Massachusetts levies, and he was an officer of 
undoubted ability and tried courage. It is not 
certainly known whether he received the message of 
General Yan Rensselaer, or whether his movements 
were occasioned by the rumors he received of the 
enemy's approach, and his own sense of duty under 
the circumstances.^ He, however, formed his com- 
mand in line of battle, on the morning of the 19th, 
excepting a few left to guard the fort, and marched 
down the road leading southward towards the Mohawk. 
He met the enemy on the slopes of the valley, about 
a mile from the present village of Palatine Bridge, 
when a battle ensued that continued to be fought 
with l)ravery, until himself and thirty-nine of his men 
were killed, and two captured. The remainder of 
his troops broke and fled towards Fort Rensselaer, 



^Governoi- Clinton states in liis correspondence, tliat Colonel 
Brown was led by folse intelligence into the fire of the wliole body of 
the enemy. 



INTRODUCTION. b i 

about tliree miles distant, on the soutli bank of tbe 
river.^ 

The loss of the enemy on this occasion is not known. 

Forts Keyser and Paris, at Stone Arabia were, at this 



1 Colonel Brown was born October 19, 1744, graduated at Yale 
college in 1771, was educated as a lawyer, married, and settled at 
Pittstield in Massachusetts. He took an early interest in the revo- 
lution, and accompanied the expedition to Canada in 1776, where he 
served with much credit, and especially distinguished himself in the 
capture of Chambly. 

During this campaign, Colonel Brown had repeated opportunities 
for observing the character of Arnold; and judged correctly of the 
baseness of his principles, and the shallowness of his patriotism. 
While stationed at Albany the following winter, he publicly and 
boldly accused the general of treasonable motives, and although 
these expressions were repeated by Brown in his presence, he did 
not venture to reply. This hatred to Arnold was cherished to the 
last, and when the general was arraigned before a court martial, 
under charges of misconduct while in command at Pliiladelphia, 
Colonel Brown sought occasion to tender to the prosecution, the 
information he possessed concerning his conduct. 

In the course of Burgoyne's expedition, Colonel Brown performed 
an act of successful strategy in the rear of the British army which 
tended to hasten the result. On the 12th of September, 1777, he was 
sent by General Lincoln, with five hundred men, to destroy some 
stores at the north end of Lake George, while another force under 
Colonel Johnson, was ordered to attack Ticonderoga and Mount 
Independence. Still another body of militia, under Colonel Wood- 
bridge, was sent forward to Skeenesborough and Fort Ann. Colonel 
Brown arrived on the heights above the landing on the 17th, attacked 
the enemy the next morning, and got possession of the landing place, 
the mills, and a block-house. Captain Ebenezer Allen, with forty 
Rangers carried Mount Defiance, and the party sent against Ticon- 
deroga surprised and captured a company of troops. These several 
parties captured 12 oflicers, 144 British, and 119 Canadians, and 18 
artificers, and released 118 American prisoners besides destroying a 
large quantity of stores. 

No mention is made of Colonel Brown in the oflicial reports of 
these events, as Arnold who then had the ear of Gates, is supposed 
to have prejudiced that oflicer against him. 



58 INTRODUCTION. 

time crowded witli families, and capable of but feeble 
resistance. The enemy bad, bow ever, no time to 
waste in attacking tbem, and after tbe defeat of 
Colonel Brown, tbey dispersed over a wdde extent of 



Tradition relates, that when Colonel Brown formed his men to 
march out against Sir John Johnson, he was mounted on a black 
horse, and that after he fell he was scalped. The dead w^ere the 
next day buried in the grounds adjoming the churches at Stone 
Arabia, and fifty-six years afterwards, on the anniversary of the 
battle, a small monument of Berkshire marble was erected at his 
grave, by his son, the late Henry Brown, Esq., of Berkshire. 

This occasion was made impressive by appropriate ceremonies. 
A large concourse of citizens assembled in the adjoining church. A 
sermon was preached by the Rev. Abraham Van Home, and a 
patriotic address delivered by Mr. Gerrit L. Roof, then a young 
lawyer at Canajoharie. 

In June of the present year (1866), the editor of these pages visited 
the locality with an artist, to procure a view of the monument, from 
which the engraving in this volume is made. It stands about three 
hundred yards west of the Reformed Dutch Church at Stone Arabia, 
in a large field set apart as a cemetery, but chiefly used as a pasture. 
The monument is two feet square at the base, by seven in height. 
Its foundations have settled, giving it an inclination to one side, and 
a picket fence in ruins, partly encloses it, while a cherry tree of 
spontaneous growth, overshadows it. 

Mr. Roof, who delivered the address in 1836, is now a respected 
clergyman in Lowville, N. Y. He has kindly furnished us a copy 
of the following verses written by him, at about the time of that 
event. They were set to music, and have been favorably noticed. 

HE SLEEPS: — THE ICY SEAL OP DEATH. 



(AiK— 0! bid me not that strain, to sing). 

He sleeps. "Tbe icy seal of death 

Is set upon his brow." 
The cannon's roar, be heeds no more. 

He rests in silence now. 
Tbe trumpet's clangor's heard afar, 

And standards proudly wave. 
But he who braved the battle's shock, 

Now slumbers in tbe grave, 

Now slumbers in the grave. 



INTRODUCTION. 59 

country, setting fire to every tiling combustible in the 
settlement.^ 

General Van Rensselaer came up a little before 
noon, about an liour after tlie battle was over. He 
had seen tlie columns of smoke, and beard tlie firing ; 



He sleeps. The noble warrior sleeps 

Upon the battle plain : 
Nor e'er will he, to victory, 

His comrades lead again. 
His country called him to command, 

He spurned the tyrant's sway ; 
The God of battles nerved his arm. 

And glory led the way, 

And glory led the way. 

With patriot band he left his home 

To strike for Liberty ; 
And march'd to brave the battle's wave, 

Determined to be free. 
His country now his fate deplores, 

His gallant comrades weep : 
He cannot hear their loud laments, 

He sleeps a dreamless sleep. 

He sleeps a dreamless sleep. 

Rest Warrior ! Thou hast gain'd a wreath 

Of never dying fame ; 
And hallow'd be thy memory ; 

And honored be thy name. 
Thy spirit, warrior ! is with God 

In mansions of the blest. 
The clash of arms, and war's alarms. 

No more disturb thy rest, 

No more disturb thy rest. 

^ Fort Keyser was a stone house stockaded and used as a place o f 
retreat for families in case of alarm from the enemy. It stood on the 
site of a barn now owned by John A. Faling about a mile and a 
quarter southeast of Stone Arabia. On the 19th, it was in char"-e of 
Captain John Zielie and about half a dozen men. Mr. John Dillenbeck 
now (1866) ninety-two years of age, remembers having seen as a child , 
from an upper window, the flames of some neighbors' houses in the 
direction of Fort Paris, and a file of red coats passing at some distance 
to the west. He is probably the only one living, who has any personal 
recollection of the events of this invasion. 



GO INTRODUCTION. 

but it was impossible for bim to aftbrd timely relief. 
His force at tins time consisted of about nine Imndred 
men, including Mtj Oneidas, and after a brief con- 
sultation witb Colonel Du Bois at Fort Rensselaer, be 
gave orders for bis troops to cross to tbe nortb bank 
as soon as possible. Tbey were exbausted with 
fatigue, tbe river was too deep to ford, and tbe 
means of crossing were limited to a small ferry, and a 
rude bridge made by placing wagons in tbe stream 
along wbicb tbe men could climb witb difficulty, from 
one to anotber. Several bours elapsed before tbey 
were all over. 

General Van Rensselaer baving at lengtb crossed 
bis troops formed tbem in three columns, the right 
along the high grounds under Colonel Du Bois, of the 
levies, the left- by Colonel Cuyler of the mihtia, and 
the centre by Colonel AAHiiting, and advanced towards 
the enemy who were met near Klock's place, about 
three miles below the present village of St. Johnsville. 
The enemy formed a line of battle with their rangers 
on their right, resting upon the river, their regulars in 
column in the centre, and their Indians and German 
riflemen on their left about one hundred and fifty 
yards in advance, in an orchard near Klock's house. 
The general came up to the enemy about sunset, 
and an irregular firing began; but his lines soon 
got into disorder, a portion in front of the rest, 
and there appeared danger of their firing upon one 
another. The darkness, which was hastened by the 



INTRODUCTION. 61 

smoke of burning buildings in tlie valley, increased 
tbis danger, and after consulting witb bis officers it 
was decided to fall back about a mile and encamp 
on tbe hills. Tlie troops at tbis time were quite 
destitute of supplies ; but some were expected during 
tbe nigbt, and it was resolved to renew bostilities early 
tbe next morning. 

Tbe enemy were quite as exhausted as their pursuers 
by their late march, but with this advantage that they 
were abundantly supphed by plundering the country. 
Their force and condition did not, however, justify 
any further hostilities if they could be avoided, and 
during the night they succeeded in crossing again 
to the south bank, leaving one small cannon, their 
wounded and a part of their plunder in the hands of 
their pursuers. 

With the first morning light, a party set out to 
pursue, and as soon as practicable the whole army was 
in motion. But the river was again between them, 
and the enemy who had now no time to spare in 
l^lundering and burning made good their retreat by 
passing around Fort Herkimer to the south. 

The army under General Van Rensselaer reached 
Herkimer the next day ; but they had lost all trace of 
the enemy and the Indian scouts who were sent out 
failed to discover their trail. Governor Chnton here 
came up and assumed command. Parties were sent 
out to within fifteen miles of Oneida ; but, although they 
found the remains of their last nights' encampment, the 



62 INTRODUCTION. 

enemy were beyond reach of pnrsuit, and tliey returned 
to Fort Herkimer. 

But this brief campaign did not end ^dthout still 
further disaster to the American arms. Major 
Hughes, commanding at Fort Schuyler, having learned 
of the place where the enemy had concealed their 
boats, dispatched a party of men under Captain 
Yrooman to destroy them, and thus prevent their 
escape. One of the party having been taken sick, or 
feigning himself so, was left at Oneida, and from him 
Sir John learned of the movement, and so eiiectually 
succeeded in surprising the party while at dinner, that 
nearly every man was captured. By this success, the 
enemy gained without loss to themselves, two captains, 
one lieutenant, eight non-commissioned officers, and 
forty-iive privates as prisoners. Three privates and 
one lieutenant were killed, and but two men escaped 
to report the tidings of the disaster. This event 
occurred on the 23d of October.^ 

About a week after the escape of Sir John by way 
of Oswego, the northern settlements were thrown into 
confusion by a false alarm of the reappearance of a 
large force on Lake George. It proved to be ground- 
less, and the orders which had been given for marching 
troops thither were countermanded. 

' Some time afterwards, a report was brought in by an Indian, that 
he liad seen upon the eastern shore of Lake Ontario fragments of 
furniture and other property that had been wrecked, and it was 
believed that a storm overtook their vessels and occasioned a loss on 
their return to their rendezvous at Fort Carleton, on Buck island. 



INTRODUCTION. 63 

In this invasion, the enemy upon a moderate 
computation destro3'ed two hundred dwellings, and a 
hundred and fifty thousand bushels of wheat, with a 
proportion of other grain and forage, and a large 
amount of property. They lost about forty prisoners, 
and were obliged to abandon most of those they had 
taken at Schoharie and other places, with the negroes, 
cattle and plunder, with which they were encumbered. 
Their loss was officially acknowledged as nine killed, 
seven wounded, and fifty-three missing; but was 
probably greater, although not equal to the loss they 
inflicted upon the country. 

IIa\'iug traced to its conclusion the events of this 
campaign, it may be interesting to notice their 
coincidence with others that were transpiring upon 
the Hudson. Early in August, General Arnold 
having been for many months in secret correspondence 
with the enemy, received upon his own application 
the command of West Point, for the purpose, as is 
now too well known, of giving value to the treason 
which he was preparing to commit, by surrendering 
a most important post into the hands of the enemy. 
In a letter from Governor ITaldimand to Lord Ger- 
main, dated on the I7th of September, two expeditions 
were mentioned as about to set out from Canada for 
the invasion of l^ew York ; and at the time when 
Arnold's treason was discovered on the 25th, these 
were both under way, and far advanced. 

Wliile it is not necessary to suppose that Governor 



G4 INTRODUCTION. 

Halclimaiul was informed of the treasonable plot then 
in progress, or mucli less any one connected with 
these expeditions, we find ample reason to credit 
the opinions exj)ressed in the correspondence of the 
day; that they were ordered for the purpose of 
creating a diversion of the American forces, and of 
calling off a part of the troops from the neighborhood 
of West Point, in order to facilitate its surrender. 

Under this view of the facts, we are justified in the 
inference, that the details of the conspiracy would 
have been arranged, and the plans matured towards 
the end of October, and that the treason was dis- 
covered about one month before it was to have been 
carried into eftect. 

The devastation and consequent alarms on the 
Connecticut, on the upper Hudson, and along the 
Mohawk and Schoharie valleys, followed by the 
surrender of the Highlands, might indeed have been 
counted upon as a fearful if not a fatal blow to the 
rebellion, and these prospects doubtless led those who 
were privy to the negotiations, to count largely upon 
the benefits they might derive from them. 

The documents we now publish, are chiefly derived 
from papers in the Secretary's ofiice and the 'New York 
State Library, and with the exception of such as are 
copied from cotemporary newspapers, have never 
before been printed. The series known as the Clinton 
Papers and Lcffislatkc Palmers, have been especially 
useful in the preparation of the present volume. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 



*^. 



Letter from Colonel Peter Bellinger} 

Fort Dayton, Seiit. the 1st, 1780. 
Sir: 

Yesterday afternoon, about four o'clock, the enemies 
appeared in our neighborhood about four miles IST. E. 
from this, QQ strong, as forty-eight Indians, eighteen 
white men, where a boy has been by they tooked last 
year prisoner down Susquehanna: — attacked Christian 
Shell with his family, tooked two of his sons, both 
eight years old prisoners, the man retired with the 
rest of his family in his house, and begun the battle 
with them, and fought with the greatest spirit till two 
hours in the night.^ He killed and wounded about 
fifteen, took one prisoner named Dan^ McDonneld. 
His oldest son got a slight wound through his arm by 
this affair, but all the rest of the tamely is save. His 



'Colonel Bellinger was commissioned June 25, 1778, and his 
regiment included the German Flatts and Kingslands Districts., He 
died at Herkimer Sept. 1815, aged 57 years. 

'^See Stone's Life of Brant, ii, 164. Benton's Uerkimer, 93. 
9 



GO NORTHERN INVASION. 

other tu'O sons beliavcd during the affair with the 
greatest spirit, and assisted the father. He got one of 
the death, [dead] whose name has been Matthew Bryon, 
and put them both in the house, gave the wounded 
their milk and bread, went off and came in this 
morning about eight o'clock. They carried seven on 
litters with them. The man [is] supposed [to] have, 
with his three sons, wounded and killed fifteen of the 
enemy, but it has been in vain, by the first intelligence 
received, I detached fifty men for his assistance about 
midnight, but the darkness of the night hindered them 
from being there sooner. Just [at] daybreak they 
came to the house, found the enemy being gone, then 
they carried the death, [dead] and followed the enemies 
a piece, found the field all over spotted with blood. 
They brought the prisoner to this post, and the docf 
found his thj^ [thigh] bone very much fractured, and 
a swan shot in the joint of his knee, so he proposed the 
amputation. I should have sent a stronger party, but 
some of our militia heard eight guns firing up towards 
Germantown, so I thought they might appear, and 
attempt to attack our fort, which is but weak in men. 
Then we have no other assistance than twenty of the 
three months levies, whereby is eighteen of my Reg' 
we have been but purely [poorly] assisted all the time, 
and being entirely outside. If any thing else shall 
happen, I shall have the pleasure of acquainting you, 
and remain your hum\ serv'., 

Peter Bellinger, Coll. 



NORTHERN" INVASION. 67 

P. S. — Sir : You will please to send tliis to Col. 
Van Scliaik/ wlio will forward to Ms Excellency the 
Governor. 



Letter from Colonel Van Schaick to Governor Clinton. 

Albany, September 6ih, 1780. 
Sir: 

At the desire of Colonel Pellinger, I have the 
pleasure to enclose your Excellency a letter containing 
an account of a gallant afi'air which happened near 
the German Elatts. 

I have yesterday been informed by Captain James 
"Watson, one of the purchasing commissaries for the 
state of Connecticut, that no salt meat could be had 
at any of the magazines in that state, and that the 
order sent for that purpose by his Excellency General 
Washington would be returned. 

It is ^\'ith the utmost concern that I inform your 
Excellency that notwithstanding the impress warrants 
put into the hands of the persons appointed for 
procuring supplies of provisions for the use of the 
troops in this quarter, nothing has yet been procured 
in consequence of them. 

I have for some time past caused repeated applica- 



1 Gozen Vau Schaick, of the 3d Continental Battalion. He died at 
Albany, July 4, 1789, aged 53 years. 



68 NORTHERN INVASION. 

tions to be made for provisions for the northern and 
western frontier posts in tins quarter who have for 
this month past been illy supplied but these to no 
purpose. The time in which Fort Schuyler ought to 
be supplied mth provisions until the first of February 
next is rapidly advancing, and I have not now even 
a distant prospect of a supply for that garrison until 
the 1st of December next, and by a letter I have 
received lately from Fort Schuyler I find the minds 
of that garrison are more disaffected to their situation 
and circumstances than ever. 

The true reason of Brant's appearing with his party 
before the garrison, was the fullest assurance had 
been given him that they would join him to a man. 
Indeed, from their situation, and the great difficulty 
I have been under in procuring only a few pair of 
shoes, it is what I have expected daily to hear, and 
they are made to believe they are to remain until 
their three years are finished. 
I am, 

most respectfully 
your Excellency's most obedt. 
humble servant 

G. Van Schaick. 

His Excellency Governor Clinton. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 69 

Letter from Lieut. Col. Jansen to Governor Clinton.^ 

Shawangunk, Sejpt'' 18, 1780. 
Sir: 

This is to acquaint your Excellency, that the savage 
enemy have been at my house this morning, took 
away a white woman and three negro men, and firing 
has been heard throughout the neighborhood. Myself 
and wife have escaped after defending the house for 
some time till the enemy dispersed, 
and remain in haste, 

your very humble servant, 

Joh" Jansen, Jun"^ 



Letter from Governor Clinton to Lieut. Col. Jansen. 

PouGHKEEPSiE, Sept. 18, 1780. 
Sir: 

I have rec'd your letter of to-day, and am happy to 
hear that you have escaped the enemy. I have wrote 
to Major Clark directing him to march that part of your 
regiment — which lies on the river, to your assistance, 
unless he shall have received accounts in the interim 
w"*" may render it unnecessary, and you have inclosed 



' See Stone's Life of Brant, ii, G5. 



70 NORTHERN INVASION. 

a letter to Col" Newkirk, for the like purpose, w''' you 
will forward to liim, if you shall conceive jow liave 
occasion for liis aid. Col. Pawling witli his levies 
was at Mven's [?] Kill this morning, and if quickly 
acquainted with the circumstances you mention, will 
have it in his power to intercept the enemy on his 
return. Co? Cantine is also dispatched to that quarter 
to put his reg' in motion. 

I am, &e., 

G. C. 



Letter from Governor Clinton to Lieut. Col Neiokirk} 

POUGHKEEPSIE, Scpt^ 18, 1780. 

Sir: 

I have just rec'd a letter from Col° Joh' Jansen^ 
informing me that the savages have attacked him in 
his house and that firing has since been heard in the 
neighborhood. 

I have therefore to request that you will march to 
repel the enemy as many men of your reg* as you can 
conveniently collect leaving orders for the remainder 
to follow you. 

I am &c. G-. C. 

To Lt. Co? :N"ewkirk. 



^ Jacob Newkirk was appointed lieutenant colonel, March 23, 1776. 

^Joliannis Jansen became major, March 9, 1778, and lieutenant 
colonel, Feb. 37, 1779. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 71 

Ldfer from Lieut. Col. Janscn to Governor Clinton. 

Shawangunk, SepP' 19th, 1780. 
Sir: 

I hereby transmit yon a more particnlar acconnt 
of the miscliief done by tliat party of Enemy wlio 
discovered themselves at my honse yesterday morning, 
viz : 

Two yonng women and an old man killed and 
scalped, one of the former was taken at my honse and 
carried abont half a mile from thence, where she was 
foiind dead, and three negro slaves they took with 
them : two of whom belonged to myself and one to 
my brother Thomas. 

As soon as some men were collected, a pursuit was 
made after them for six or eight miles along the 
mountains towards Memacatinge, but supposing 
them to be some distance ahead, and our men having 
been without provisions all that day, and being not 
able to discover their tracks any longer, which obliged 
them to return without receiving any satisfaction. 
From the men's accounts, I have however, some hopes 
that Col. Pawling will intercept them, as he had early 
intelligence of their route. This aflair has so much 
alarmed the people, that they threaten to abandon 
their homes, unless they get a small guard, and as I 
conceive their apprehensions as far from being ground- 
less, I have therefore thought it necessary to order 
out one class from each of the five frontier companies, 



72 NORTHERN INVASION. 

wliicli I propose to station, with such of the inhabitants 

as I conceive to be most exposed, until I shall obtain 

your Excellency's directions how further to conduct 

myself: hoping what I have done, may meet with 

your Excellency's approbation, and I am with the 

greatest deference and esteem, your excellency's most 

humble serv'. 

JoiiANNis Jansen, 

Lieut. Col. 
To his Excellency 

George Clinton Esq. Governor. 



Letter from Governor Clinton to Colonel Pawling. 

Po'keepsie, 21*^ Sejyf, 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

Since I wrote you last, I have received several letters 
from Col. Malcom in all which he repeats in the 
strongest terms, the necessity of your taking the 
command of the troops destined to relieve the present 
garrison of Fort Schuyler. I proposed to him, as I 
mentioned to you. Major De Witt for this service, but 
he informs me that this would occasion new and 
insurmountable embarrassments, on the score of rank. 
This being the case, I must tho' reluctantly consent 
to your taking that command. 

You "will accordingly on the receipt of this letter, 



NORTHERN INVASION. iS 

repair with tlie least possible delay to Col. Maleom, 
prepared for tliis service, leaving your present 
command to Major De AVitt. Maleom on your arrival 
at Schenectady, will order a company as a reinforce- 
ment to the troops on the frontiers of Ulster and 

Orange counties. 

I am, &c. 

G. C. 

Lieut. Col. Pawlino;. 



Letter from Col. J. Ncioldrk to Governor Clinton. 

Dear Sir : 

In consequence of your Excellency's orders dated 
the 18th September, I marched immediately in person, 
with two companies, to where the road crosses the 
mountains to JSTeponeck, and beginning there ranged 
the mountains along until I met Major Philips, whom 
I had ordered out with two companies to range the 
mountains from Minnisink road until I should meet 
\ntli him about midway between the respective 
forementioned roads. We made all possible search, 
])nt could make no discovery of any enem^^ It is my 
opinion, and the opinion of the most sensible in these 
parts, that the perpetrators of the barbarity at Col. 
Johnston's [Jansen's] were tories. 

Your Excellency will easily perceive the propriety 
of my not calling out the whole regiment, when I 
10 



74 NORTHERN INVASION. 

inform you, tliat Col. Joliuston was returned home 

with his whole reg', after having searched and pursued 

for the enemy to no purpose, hefore I rec'd your 

Excellency's order. 

Sir, I have the honor to be, your Excellency's most 

ohedt & y humble ser'. 

Jacob I^ewkirk. 
Hanover, Sept. 23, 1780. 



Letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington. 

Sejf V' 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

I am flivored with your Excellency's letter of the 
27th -j^||.o^ ^^^^^ ^y^^ much obliged by your attention to 
my application (through Gen* Schuyler) in ordering 
CoP. Malcom's corps to the defence of the frontiers. 
Every measure in my power will be taken to expedite 
liis march, and he has my orders to relieve the garrison 
of Fort Schuyler without the least delay, by the levies 
raised for the defense of the frontiers last spring, whose 
times of ser\dce will not expire until the first Dec'' next. 
It will take some considerable time, however, to collect 
them, as they are posted at difterent and remote parts 
of the frontiers. But I would fain hope that the 
discontents of the present garrison will subside when 
they are informed that measures are taken to relieve 
them. I have directed CoP Malcolm to proceed imme- 
diately to Albany, and take the necessary measures for 



NORTHERN INVASION. 



collecting as large a supply of provisions for Fort 
Schuyler as can be spared, for, wMcli purpose lie lias 
warrants to impress tliat lie may avail himself of an 
escort by the troops intended to garrison that post. 

I shall take the earliest opportunity of communicating 
to the legislature, (who are required to meet at this 
place on the 4*'' Inst), your Excellency's letter of the 
27"^. ulf, together with the several letters from the 
committee of congress on the subject of supphes for 
the army. In the mean time the state agent will have 
my directions to make every exertion in his power for 
affording them immediate relief. I take the liberty of 
inclosing (confidentially) for your Excell^^ perusal, a 
copy of the proceedings of a convention of committees 
from the states of Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut and 
Few Hampshire, in which I am happy to find, even at 
this late hour, sentiments which generally adopted, 
cannot fail of producing much good.^ I believe I may 
venture to assure you sir, that as the most sensible 
among us have from the beginning of the contest 



1 The governor here refers to a convention which met in Boston 
Aug. 3, 1780, " to promote the most vigorous exertions for the present 
campaign, and to cultivate a good understanding and procure a 
generous reception for the officers and men of the French army and 
fleet," then latelj^ arrived at Newport. The convention chose Thomas 
Cusliing as president, and continued in session until the 9th of August. 
Among the resolutions which they adopted, was one urging a more 
perfect union of the states, larger powers to congress, and the choice 
of a supreme head to the national aflFairs. It may be regarded as one 
of the earliest movements towards the establishment of the Federal 
government, if not the pioneer of this idea, which was not carried 
into effect until nearly nine years afterwards. 



76 NORTHERN INVASION. 

foreseen the consequences of teniporiiry expedients, 

tliey will meet the cliecrful approbation of tins state. 

I liave the honor to be, &c., 

G. Clinton. 
His Excellency, Gen^ Washington. 



Letter fro)ii General Roljert Van Rensselaer to Governor 

Clinton. 

Fort Rensselaer,^ Sepf 4, '80. 
Dear Gov"" : 

The reports of the enemy's intentions are still 

vague and uncertain. Some say, Sir John is coming 

by way of Lake Champlain ; Brant and Butler from 

the westward. Small parties are frequently seen upon 

the frontiers. Last Thursday, they attacked the house 

of one Shell, about three miles north of Fort Herkimer. 

The house was bravely defended by the man, his two 

sons and wife. He supposed they killed or wounded 



^Mr. J. 11. Simms of Fort Plain, Avho is remarkably well informed 
upon the ancient localities of the Mohawk valley, insists that Fort 
Rensselaer was a stockaded stone house in the upper part of the 
village of Canajoharie, and that this name was never applied to Fort 
Plain, that stood on the hills half a mile above the modern village of 
this name. This place has sometimes been called Fort Plank, but 
this name more properly applied to another stockade around a 
dwelling owned by a House family, nearly four miles from Fort 
Plain, further up the valley and back from the river. It was built 
early in the war, as a shelter for the inhabitants against Indian parties. 

In view of all the f\icts that have come under our notice, we cannot 
but regard Fort Rensselaer as a synonym for Fort Plain. The name 
was probably adopted when the general took command after Sir 
John's invasion in the spring of 1780. 



NORTHERN INVASION. / / 

fifteen or sixteen of the enemy. They left one killed 
and one wounded on the ground. The prisoner says, 
the party consisted of thirty-six British troops, and 
thirty Indians. Capt" Allen of the levies, went the 
next day in pursuit of them, with forty men who were 
not returned yesterday even^. On Saturday last, I 
sent off twelve boats with provisions for Fort Schuyler, 
escorted by two hundred men, under the command of 
Coll. Brown of the Massachusetts levies, which leaves 
the frontier very thin of men. I have also sent out a 
scout to Unadilla and Ocquago,^ at which place I am 
suspicious they make their rendesvous. 

I am anxious to hear from your quarters, and shall 
esteem it a particular favor to hear from you. 

I am, Dear Gov'' your most Obed' and Ilmb^ Serv* 

RoB'^ V Rensselaer. 



Letter from Col. Patterson and others to Governor Clinton. 

To his Excellency, George Clinton, Esqr. 

TVe having received informations of an alarming 
nature, some of which we have sent your Excellency 
in writing, and for a more particular account we refer 
your Excellency to the bearer hereof, as we are 
destitute of authority we humbly conceive that the 
appointment of a committee if they are invested with 



*Now Winsor, Broome county, N. Y. 



78 



NOKTIIEKN INVASION. 



some degree of iiuthority miglit l)e of grout service 
for detecting such inliabitauts amongst us as we have 
reason to suppose are conspiring against ns Avith our 
enemies who secretly hirk amongst us, and we further 
beg leave to suggest to your Excellency whether some- 
thing by way of scouts will not be the best to be done. 
The bearer hereof will inform your Excellency 
what measures we have taken, and by him we hope 
to receive from your Excellency such directions as 
your Excellency's wisdom fe'hall direct. 

We are Dear Sir, Your Excellency's loyal subjects, 

Eleazer Patterson, CoP- i 
Jonathan Church, John Sargent, Lt. Col., 
Aaron Nash, Timothy Church, Capt, 

Artimas How, Seth Smith, 

Henry Seger, Sam^- Warriner, 

Leonard Hendrtck, Benj. Butterfield, Lt., 
William Harris. 



Brattle- 
borough 
Septem- 
ber 
11th, 
1780. 



Letter from Governor Cliiifon to Perso/i.s la Camherland 

Coantij. 



Gen*: 



PouGHKEEPSiE, 16"' Scptehiber, 1780. 



I have received your letter of the 10*'' Inst., requesting 
the appointment of Com'"' for the purpose of discovering 



1 Col. Patterson resided at Hiusdale, now Vernon, Vt. He held 
several offiees under New York appointment, and was distinguished 
for bis hostility to the new government of .Vermont. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 79 

and defeating the secret designs of the enemy in your 
county. Before this can be done, there must he a strict 
law passed, authorizing it, as the number of Com'"' 
directed by our present law is already complete, and 
as this will take some time, I have thought it most 
advisable not to detain Mr. Smith, as I shall have an 
opportunity of forwarding the commission by Mr. 
Knowlton on his return from Philadelphia, or by some 
earlier safe conveyance. 

I would beg leave to observe, that as the powers to 
be granted to the comr' will be extensive, it will be 
their- duty to be particularly prudent and careful in 
putting them into execution, and as congress has 
recommended to this state, not to exert any authority 
over the inhabitants of the tract of land commonly 
called the ~New Hampshire Grants, and who do not 
acknowledge the authority of this state, until the 
controversy relative to the same is settled, I have to 
request that these com" when appointed, do not by any 
act contravene the above resolution. 

I am, &c., 

a. c. 



Letter from Col. G. Van Schaick to Governor Cl'mtov. 

Albany, Sept. 12, 1780. 
Sir: His Excellency General Washington, has 
directed me to march my regiment to the grand army 



so NORTHERN INVASION. 

immediately after they are relieved from Fort 

Schuyler. The want of clothing amongst the men is 

such, that it requires my utmost exertion to procure 

them, although out of the line of my duty. I should 

not give your Excellency any tronhle ahout this 

matter Avas it not that the men are in a manner naked, 

and that I apprehend, on their arrival at Schenectady, 

great desertions will take place, if we have nothing to 

give them. There are a small quantity of shirts and 

linnen in the hands of Mr. John I^. Bleeeker, one of 

the gentlemen directed by a late law to collect clothing 

for the Continental battalions of this State : and Mr. 

Bleeeker informs me, there is some more expected. 

I must intreat the favor of your Excellency, to furnish 

the bearer Lieut. Abraham Ten Eyck, paymaster, 

with an order on Mr. Bleeeker, to deliver all the shirts 

and linnen, he may have in his hands, provided it 

does not exceed one shirt and a pair of overhalls per 

man. As the regiment has not yet received any kind 

of clothing, since the first of December last, it is 

easily judged the condition they must be in. Should 

your Excellency disapprove of the measure, my 

attachment and zeal for the service, and in order as 

much as in me lays to prevent mntinys and desertions, 

will I flatter myself sufficiently apologize for troubling 

your Excellency on this subject. 

I am, &c., 

G. Van Schaick. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 81 

Letter from Governor Clinton to Colonel G. Van Schaick. 

14*'^ Sept^, 1780. 
Sir: 

Agreeable to your request, I have enclosed an order 

for tlie clothing in the hands of Mr. Bleecker for the 

use of your regiment, not to exceed one shirt and one 

overall p"' man. This your paymaster is to receipt for, 

and you will please to forward a duplicate receipt, 

which I have occasion for as a voucher. 

I am, &c. Gr. C. 



From Rivington's Royal Gazette, Sept. 23, 1780. 

"FORT STAN^WIX. 
" By a person of good reputation and perfectly 
intelligent, just arrived from the northward, we are 
informed that about a fortnight ago, Fort Stanwix, 
after having been five or six weeks closely invested, 
was taken by six hundred British troops, commanded 
by a lieutenant colonel, supposed to be the king's or 
YIII Regiment. Our faithful friend Captain Joseph 
Brant, ^vith a party of Indians, shared in the glory of this 
conquest, which was facilitated by STARVATION", {a 
2)h7'ase ive adopt from our old acquaintance and fellow citizen, 
William Livingston, Esquire, now of New Jersey). The 
Indians have laid waste the whole country, the tory 
houses excepted, down to Schenectady, where some 
rebels are at work throwing up works to oppose the 
11 



82 NORTHERN INVASION. 

progress of the British troops, and our Tiidian allies. 
The rebel women and children have retired to Albany, 
where, from a consciousness of their unprovoked per- 
secutions and murders, terror and jeopardy prevail, 
even to distraction. The seditious seminary,^ under 
the direction of missionary Wheelock, of attrocious 
name, we are informed, has lately been completely 
expurgated by a long merited conflagration." 



Letter from Governor Clinton to General Schuyler. 

POUGHKEEPSIE, Oct. 3d, 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

I wrote you last night, in answer to yours of the 27th 

ultimo, by my brother, who is on his way to Albany 

to take the command in that quarter. I am since 

favored with your two letters of the 31st of last month 

and the 1st instant. If my health permitted, I would 

immediately set out for Albany, but I am so affected 

with the rheumatism occasioned by my last jaunt and 

the present damp weather, that I dare not undertake 

the journey. I have communicated to my brother the 

intelligence transmitted me from your quarter, and 

have directed him to call on Gen'" Ten Broeck and 

Van Rensselaer for a sufiicient force from their 

brigades to cover the settlements, agst the incursions 

of the enemy and repel them ; and I have wrote to 



> At Hanover, N. H. The greater part of this article is fictitious. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 8d 

tliose gentlemen to comply with liis requisitions. 
What we shall do for pro"\dsions (tho the country 
abounds with it), God only knows. The assessments 
come on so slowly notwithstanding every endeavor to 
hasten them, that no certain dependance can be placed 
upon them. The cattle when received, are scarcely 
worth killing. The mills for want of water, unable to 
grind the wheat. I have this moment received a very 
pressing letter from Gen^ Heath who commands in 
the Highlands on this subject of his wants, by which 
I am informed that his only dependance for bread is 
on this state. It is not in my power to relieve him. 
Your letter fully contirms me on what I had some 
reason to suspect, on the first incursion of the enemy, 
respecting the conduct of Allen. I wish this matter 
may be fully investigated and I beg that it may 
continue to engage your attention. Your letter to the 
commander-in-chief, shall be immediately forwarded. 
If the present alarm is as imminent as is to be appre- 
hended I will see you soon if my health vnll enable me. 

I am, &c., G. C. 

Gen' Schuyler. 



Letter froyn Citizens of Tryon Chwity to Governor Clinton. 

Johnstown, Oetoh''- 3'^ 1780. 
Hon"^ Sir : 

"We are unhappily situated in this county, by 

keeping so many disaifected famihes amongst us, and 



84 NORTHERN INVASION. 

it is -witli regret wo iiiforin your Excellency, tliat the 
net provided for sending tlicm oft', appears to us very 
deficient. 

Many of these disaftected families are not able to 
transport themselves ten miles, (and yet as capable of 
doing us hurt as the richer kind). Others are able to 
defray the expenses of themselves and something to 
spare. We should be glad to di\ide what they have 
amongst them, so as to carry the whole oft", but in 
doing of this, we must act without law. 

We would therefore pray your Excellency, to give 
us your advice by Lieut. Bradnor, if there is no 
prospect of an amendment being made to the act 
soon. 

The necessity of their being sent oft" immediately is 

notorious, as we are fully convinced they harbor and 

give intelligence to the enemy daily. We have also 

a number of men, who we believe do infinitely more 

damage than the women. Some of them have applied 

to go oft". We should be very glad to know whether 

we are to x:)rovide a flagg to send them oft', or where 

we are to apply for one. 

With Respect your Excellency's 

Most Obed' Humble servt.. 

Peter S. Deygert,^ 

Zeph. Batcheller. 
Gov'^ Chnton. 



Appointed major March 4, 1780. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 85 

Petition from Citizens of Tryon Coiintij. 

Tryon County, 6tli October, 1780. 
The Petition of tlie Inliabitants of Tiyou County, 
Humbly Sbeweth, 

Tliat your Petitioners have during this campaign, 
labored under tbe most dreadful difficulties ; that 
several of their principal settlements, \\z : Conawaga, ^ 
[and] Conajohary, have been entirely destroyed, 
whereby a great number of families were forced to 
leave the country, in order to seek refuge in some 
other part, more remote from our cruel savage 
enemies : that still the greater number, trusting in 
the Providence of God, and the protection of their 
country, did rather choose to stay in defence of their 
property, rights and liberties, than to give way to 
thoughts unbecoming a people that is determined to 
be free, and would rather share the good will and 
danger of their fellow brethren, in the country, than 
to be a burden upon the public. 

That it most seasonably happened by your Excel- 
lency's paternal care, which they have so often 
experienced, that troops have been sent up to their 
assistance, time enough to enable and protect them to 
gather their grain, whereof a vast quantity stands now 
dispersed all over the several settlements of their 
country, staulked up in their fields and round the 



Caughnawaga, now Fonda, Montgomery county. 



.86 NORTHERN INVASION. 

ditt'erent forts. Tliat this luippy eircii instance, and the 
prospect that the sufferers could tiiid slielter and 
refuge with those who enjoy their houses, whereof 
there is a considerable number, have been the support 
of their hopes and perseverance. But that their firm 
resolution is quite shaken, when they find that the 
time of the troops Avhich were sent to their protection 
is almost expired, at a time when the enemy in the 
verge of their settlements, has in the sight of a 
number of the best troops, and most \^gilant officers, 
burn'd kill'd and taken prisoners, of which almost 
every day brings a new instance, that your petitioners 
have intelligence that this is the sixth day since 
Brandt had left Magara, with a large body of men, 
witli an intent to invade our country, that your 
petitioners presume if tliat should be the case, as 
they have the greatest reason to Ijelieve it will be 
some time this fall, then it would be in the power 
of the enemy to destroy almost all the grain col- 
lected, besides the rest of the settlements yet standing, 
if seasonable and effective measures is not imme- 
diately adopted to prevent it. Your petitioners are 
therefore under the most dreadful apprehensions, and 
presume to lay their case once more before your 
Excellency, appealing to your known humanity, 
craving your Excellency's kind interposition with the 
Legislature, and the commander in chief, to have 
such relief granted as our case requires, and you in 
vour wisdom shall see meet. 



NORTHEEN INVASION. 



87 



Your Excellencys humble Petitioners, as in duty 
bound shall ever pray. 

Signed in behalf of the Inhabitants of Tryon County. 



Jacob I. Klock, Col.^ 

J. Daniel Gros, Minister, 

Jellis Fonda, 

Adam Conderman, 

Adam Leyp, 

]!^ich0las coppernoll, 

his 

DoiMMAS X Goodman, 

mark 



John Kaselman, 
John T. Backus, 
Samuel Vanettia, Left. 
John Snell, 
Henrich Lairs, 
William Lairs, 
John Zielley, 
Adam Cinge, (?) 

his 

George x Kelman, Sen' 

mark 

Pieter S. Deygert. 



Letter from Governor Clinton to Colonel Klock. 

Kingston, ll^A October, 1780. 
Sir: 

I have this moment received a petition dated 8th 
instant, subscribed by yourself and other inhabitants 
of Tryon county, in answer to which I am happy in 



1 Colonel of the Palatine district regiment of state militia. 

2 The Rev. Johan Daniel Gros, was a German emigrant who came 
to America shortly before the revolution, was naturalized by the 
general assembly, March 8, 1773, and settled at Canajoharie. At 
this period he was holding a commission as chaplain to the levies 
raised for the defence of the frontiers. The date of his appointment 
was June 16, 1780. After the war, he removed to New York, and 
was settled as pastor of a German Reformed Church. For several 



88 NORTHERN INVASION. 

being able to inform you that Legislative provision is 
made for calling out a part of the militia for a certain 
period for the further defense of the Frontiers, and 
orders are accordingly issued for tliis purpose which I 
trust will reach you before this can, as they were 
forwarded some days since. 

The sense of the members representing the frontier 
counties, was taken, as to the number of men necessary 
for this service, and I trust therefore, that this force 
ordered to be raised, will prove competent. The 
greatest fear is, that it may not be brought into the 
field as early as exigencies may require. In this case, 
I must entreat the best exertions of the militia of Tryon 
county, until they can be enrolled and forwarded for 
their relief. Be asssured that every eftbrt shall be 
made on my part for your protection. 

Iam,&c., G. C. 

Col. Klock. 



years he was professor of moral philosophy and logic in Columbia 
College, He died at Canajoharie May 15, 1812, aged seventy-five years. 
The late Governor DeWitt Clinton in an address delivered before 
the alumni of Columbia College, thus alludes to Mr. Gros : " He had 
emigrated to this country before the revolution, and settled near the 
banks of the Mohawk, in a frontier country, peculiarly exposed to 
irruptions from Canada and the hostile Indians. When war com- 
menced, he took the side of America, and, enthroned in the hearts of 
his countrymen, and distinguished for the courage which rharks the 
German character, he rallied the desponding, animated the wavering, 
confirmed the doubtful and encouraged the brave to more than 
ordinary exertion. With the Bible in one hand and the sword in the 
other, he stood forth in the united character of patriot and Christian, 
vindicating the liberties of mankind, and amidst the most appalling 
dangers, and the most awful vicissitudes, like the Red Cross knight 
of the Fairy Queen, ' Right faithful true he was, in deed and Avord.' " 



NORTHERN INVASION. 89 

Letter from Stephen Lush to Governor Clinton. 

Albany, Oe/o^n- 12, 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

I this moment arrived, and am now at Col" 
Malcom's Quarters. Major Hughes, in a letter to 
him of the 10th, which I have now before me, says, 
that an Indian deserter then just arrived, brings 
intelhgence, that a large body of British and Indians, 
under Sir John, Butler, and Brant, were the night of 
the -Sth Inst, at Oneida, from Niagara, on their way 
to Stone Arabia, and ultimately for Fort Schuyler : 
that they were furnished with mortars and cannon,' and 
a large number of shells, (one of which the Indian 
brought in his blanket). Major Hughes says, every 
preparation is making to receive them. 

The enemy have also appeared to the northward. 
CoP Livingston in another letter to Col° Malcom, 
(also before me), dated yesterday, 5 o'clock a. m. says, 
he had that moment rec^ a particular account of the 
taking of Fort Ann, that Cap* Sherwood command^ 
there, was summoned by ]\Iajor Carleton of the 
enemy : he refused, but upon their parading their 
forces, amounting to 850 British, Indians and Tories, 
in view of the garrison, they surrendered prisoners of 
war. 

Col" Li^nngston writes, that his intelligence is, that 

Carleton with his party are now at Fort George, and 
12 



00 NORTHERN INVASION". 

arc to be joined by a party from Ballstown under 
command of Sir Jobn : and that lie means if he can, 
with safety to his post, march to the rehef of Fort 
George. 

Thus stands the ace' from our northern and western 
frontiers. Col" Malcom has transmitted them by an 
express to Pokeepsie this morning, but upon my 
informing him that your Excellency was probably at 
Kingston, he is gone for another express, and has 
desired me to write your Excellency the above acc'ts, 
so as to have them in readiness to be dispatched as 
soon as the express can be obtained. 

This brigade is ordered to march immediately, and 
are now preparing to be disposed of as Col" Malcom, 
and Gen^ Ten Broeck shall think best, for the defence 
of the frontiers. ' Col. Malcom has made a request 
to Gen^ V" Rensselaer for 800 men, and intreats your 
Excellency, if possible, to have the men hastened on 
by your Excellency's orders. 

The scarsity of provisions,^ and the total uncertainty 
of obtaining supplies, is truly alarming. If any means 
can be fallen upon, to supply the troops now ordered 



iBy an act passed Sept. 21, 1780, the following quotas of fat cattle 
were assigned to the several counties : Albany, 300 ; Dutchess, 475 ; 
Ulster, 150 ; Orange, 150 ; and Westchester 50. By the same act, it 
was ordered that 2,600 barrels of flour should be assessed, viz : from 
Albany 2,000, Dutchess 1,000, Ulster 600, Orange 300, Tryon 600, 
and Charlotte 100. These quotas were to be distributed among the 
towns, and the whole were to be delivered before the 1st of January 
1781. Of course no benefit was derived from this law in the present 
crisis. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 91 

out, and tliose already ou the frontiers, Col" Malcom 
requests your Excellency's interposition, as without 
supplies, the militia must disband, as soon as they take 
the field.' And if any reinforcements of men can be 
obtained, from any other quarter than those already 
mentioned, CoP Malcom conceives they will be 
wanted, provided they come with sufficient supplies 
of provisions. 

Col" Livingston, in a letter to-day, sajs he is sur- 
rounded by the Indians and tories, who have hovered in 
notice of the fort for the last tw^elve hours : that they 
had not yet ventured an attack : that he had sent out a 
party of 20 men who were obliged to return, the 
enemy proving too numerous : that they were burning 
ab* 7 miles from the fort : that they had only 60 men 
fit for duty, and the enemy supposed 400. 

I am, mth the highest respect and esteem, 
Your Excellency's Most Obed' Serv' 

Stephen Lush.^ 
His Excellency Gov'" Clinton. 

The foregoing is a tolerable exact state of things. 
I have sent a letter to Col. Klock, requesting him to 
turn out the Tryon county brigade. It is necessary 
that we be able to advance with 1,000 men, the posts 



^ Mr. Lush bad previously been a prisoner with the enemy, and 
afterward was private secretary to Governor Clinton. He died at 
No. 311 North Market street (now Broadway) Albany, April 15, 1825, 
aged seventy-two years. 



92 NORTITERN INVASION. 

at tlie same time guarded. Gen^ Van Rensselaer is 
my only depondauce. Will you come up? It is 
necessary. It is yet impossible for me to know whether 
to go north or west. Provisions. If possible, send 
some from Esopus, &c. and do urge Gen^ Rensselaer to 
send some on. Come up. Gen. Ten Broeck's 
brigade is disposed of, some to Schoharie to Fort 
IS" & some to E . 



.Articles of Capitulation between Major Carleton, com- 
manding a detachment of the King's troops, and Capt. 
Ghipman, commanding at Fort George. 

Article V\ The troops of the garrison to surrender 
themselves prisoners of war. 

Article 2^. That the women and children be per- 
mitted to return to their homes, with two waggons 
and their baggage. 

Article 3^ Each officer shall be allowed their servants. 

Article 4:^^. No Indian to enter the fort, until a British 
detachment takes possession of the fort. 

Article b^^. Major Carleton passes his honor that no 
levies in the fort shall be lost, nor any person be 
molested. 

Article 6'^. Each soldier to carry his knapsack. 

Article Y"'. Ensign Barrett shall be permitted to 



NORTHERN" INVASION. 93 

return home witli liis family and the regimental books, 
on giving liis parole to Major Carleton. 

John Chipman, Cap* Com^ 2'^ Battalion. 

James Kirkman, Lt. 29tli Reg'. 

Wm. Johnston, Lt. 47tli Reg*. 

Ch« Carlton, Major 29tli Reg*., &c., &c., &c. 



Letter from Col. W. Ifalcom to Gen. Van Rensseher. 

Albany, Oct" 1W\ 1780. 
Sir: 

A very considerable body of the enemy appeared on 
Tuesday at Fort Ann, wliicli was instantly given up by 
Cap* Sherwood. They came on to the river and burnt a 
number of houses about Fort Edward. Yesterday they 
returned towards Lake George. Gen^ Ten Broeck's 
MiUtia above Albany are ordered to Fort Edward. 

This morn^ I have an express from Fort Schuyler, 
informing that Sir John, Butler and Brandt, with a 
very large body were at Oneida, that they had cannon, 
mortars and shells with them. An Lid" deserted and 
went into the fort with this notice, and carried a five 
inch shell with him as an evidence. I have consulted 
with Gen^ Ten Broeck, and he joins in opinion with 
me, that it is proper to have assistance from you, of at 
least 800 men. I beg therefore that you will be 
pleased to give your orders accordingly. Unless we 



94 NORTHERN INVASION. 

have reinforcements immediately, no doubt but Fort 
Scliuyler and all tliat remains of the fine country on the 
Mohawk river, particularly Stone Arabia, vnW be 
destroyed. It is also necessary that cattle and flour 
come forward, not only for your subsistence but for the 
troops already here. It is a fact that we have no beef, 
nor is there either wheat or flour collected, notwith- 
standing my constant and most pressing solicitations. 
I am persuaded that you will see the propriety of 
marching the troops forward instantly. You know 
little is to be depended on in this quarter, and the 
levies are necessarily scattered, so that it is impossible 
to collect any body of them without leaving some 
valuable part of the country exposed. 

I have wrote to the Gov"^ this morning, but at that 
time did not imagine the enemy were so formidable. 
Yours very Respectfully, 

W. Malcom, Coll. Comd'. 
To Gen^ Van Rensselaer. 



Letter from Gen. Van Rensselaer to Governor Clinton. 

Claverack, Ocf 1W\ 1780. 
Dear Gov'" : 

Inclosed I send you a copy of a letter from Coll" 

Malcomb, in consequence of which [I] have ordered 

the whole brigade to march with the greatest dispatch, 

and intend to set off" from this to-morrow morning. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 95 

[I] have requested the agent of this state in this 

quarter, to forward on all the cattle and flour they can 

collect. 

I am Dear Gov'' your Most dev* Servt, 

Rob'' Y^ Eensselaer. 



Be2)l)/ of Governor Clinton to General Van Rensselaer. 

October 14'^ 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

I have this moment received your letter of yester- 
day, and perfectly approve your ordering out your 
whole brigade. My orders of yesterday were for 800, 
but those of this morning were for your whole brigade. 
I must beg you to hasten them on with all possible 
speed, and take with them all the provisions that can 
be collected. I expect to set out for Albany to-morrow 

morning, if not this evening. 

Yours, &c., G. C. 
Brig. Gen. Van Rensselaer. 



Attack upon Forts Ann and George. 

From EoWs PoughJceepsie Journal, dated October 16, 1780, quoted in 
Almonds Bemembrancer, vi, 23. 

" We hear from the northward, that a considerable 
body of British Troops, Indians and Tories from 



96 NORTHERN INVASION. 

Canada, by tlie way of Lake Clianiplain, have taken 
our posts at Fort George and Fort Ann, mtli the 
small garrison ; and that the enemy are still in that 
quarter, burning and ravaging the country, in the 
neighborhood of Fort Edward. The Inhabitants of 
Try on County, are also alarmed by intelligence, that a 
considerable party, under Butler and Brandt, are 
expected that way. When the last accounts came off, 
the militia were assembling to oppose them." 



Letter from Governor Clinton to General Greene. 

POUGHKEEPSIE, Ocf 14*'', 1780. 

Dear Sir : 

I have rec'^ your letter of the 9th and 10th Inst., and 
am unhappy that it is not in my power to have met 
you at Poughkeepsie agreeable to your appointment. 
I received the information too late for the purpose. 

I should do myself the ^^leasure of waiting upon 
you, at West Point, but from the information con- 
tained in the papers enclosed, in the letter to his 
Excellency General Washington, (which I send under 
a flying seal for your perusal, and to be forwarded by 
express), I find it absolutely necessary to proceed to 
Albany, and intend to set out this evening or in the 
morning. The almost total want of every species of 
supplies, I fear will prove fatal to us. We have not a 



NORTHERN INVASION. 



97 



single Continental troop there, and onr whole depend- 
ance is in the militia, and this to oppose a very 
formidable body of regnlar troops. 

I am with great esteem, 

Dear Sir, Your obed' Serv*, 

G-. Clinton. 
Major General Green. 

[Forwarded by Cap' Belding.] 



Letter from Governor Clinton to General Washmgton. 

PouGHKEEPSiE, 14"* October, 1780. 
Dear Sir: 

I transmit your Excellency enclosed, copies of 
several letters I received last night, at Kingston, from 
Col° Malcom, Lt. CoP^ Lush & Livingston. They 
contain the only account I have, of the disagreeable 
situation of our affairs to the northward and westward. 
I shall immediately set out for Albany to employ 
every man in my power to oppose the further progress 
of the enemy, and should Fort Schuyler be invested, 
as there is reason to apprehend, I will endeavor to 
succor that fort. 

Your Excellency mil be informed by one of Col" 

Malcom's letters, that Van Schaick's regiment is left 

Albany and on their way to join the army, so that our 

whole dependence at present must rest on the militia. 

13 



98 NORTHERN INVASION. 

Tlic levies raised for the service of the frontiers, 
compose tlie garrison of Fort Scliuyler, and Malcom's 
corps occupy the other posts on the north, and 
Mohawk rivers and at Schoharie and are of course 
very much dispersed. 

If it was possihle for your Excellency to spare some 
Continental troops on this occasion they would inspire 
the militia with confidence, and enable us to repel the 
enemy. The want of supplies of every kind in this 
quarter, will greatly embarrass every measure, and I 
fear that with our utmost exertions, we shall fail in 
collecting a suflicient supply of provisions for the 
troops that it may be necessary to keep in the field on 
this emergency. It is a little remarkable that we have 
not had the least intelligence from the Grants, of the 
approach of the enemy, though they passed their 
settlements in boats, on their way to Fort Ann. 

This enterprise of the enemy, is probably the 
efiect of Arnold's treason, and when they are informed 
that the capital object of it is discovered and defeated, 
it is to be presumed they will be discouraged in 
prosecuting the full extent of their designs, though I 
think we ought not to place any reliance on this 
presumption. 

I am, &c., G. C. 

His Excellency 
General Washington. 

[Forwarded by Ocf^ 14"* in the evening enclosed to 
Gen. Green by Capt. Belding.] 



NORTHERN INVASION. 99 

Letter from Cap^ Sherwood to Col Henri/ Lw'mgston. 

On Board the Carleton, 17^'' October, 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

It is with regret that I write from this place, but 
my situation will admit of uo other. I have not had 
the least reason to complain since a prisoner, but have 
been used with the greatest politeness. You have 
doubtless heard the particulars of my giving up the 
garrison at Fort Ann to Maj"" Carleton, who was at 
the head of seven hundred and seventy-eight men, 
chiefly British.^ I have with me seventy-five men, 
officers included, which was the whole of my garrison. 



' Seth Sherwood, a captain of exempts, in a petition for relief, dated 
April, 1782, says : 

" On the 10th oi" October, 1780, was informed that on the foregoing 
night an express had passed from Fort Ann to Fort Edward, with 
intelligence that the tracks of 150 or 200 of the enemy had been 
discovered by a scout from Fort Ann, near South Bay. And rather 
thinking them to be less in number than more, as generally so proves 
in alarms, and taking advice from some of his company, who were 
gathered to draw ammunition, &c. I rode off for further information, 
in order to know in what manner to proceed for the relief of troops at 
Fort Ann. I being soon met by a number of the enemy, who informed 
Fort Ann was taken and burnt, which I gave but little credit to, till 
made sensible by being brought to the main body of Major Carlton's 
party or army, which consisted of 800 regular troops and loyalists 
exclusive of 25 savages, and seeing the garrison was captured to my 
surprise and made sensible of the truth. And my being examined 
strictly concerning the strength and number of troops at Fort Edward 
and Fort George, &c., was ordered to fall in witli the body of the rest 
of the prisoners." 

Captain Sherwood's premises were wasted, and property destroyed, 
which he valued at £941 hard money. 



100 NORTHERN INVASION. 

and not to exceed ten pounds of ammunition p'' iiuui, 
in}' communications cut oft' and without tlie least hopes 
of reUef for some time. It is not only chagrining 
but heart-breaking boon to relate the dolefull tail. 

However after consulting my ofiicers and some of 
my most sensible men, [I] agreed to capitulate, and 
gave up the garrison, and consider myself and men as 
prisoners of war, could have made some resistence 
as long as my powder and ball lasted, but when that 
was exhausted, what men that should then [have] 
survived would have been massacred by the savages. 
This being my situation, hard as it was, I agreed to 
sign the articles, liaving liberty to send the women 
and children to their respective homes. 

My men are divided, so as I am not able to write an 
exact account of the number of my men and the 
militia apart. 

]Maj'" Chipman is also prisoner here, with about 
forty men from Fort George.' Have sent p'" the bearer 



1 Oil the 14th of March, 1781, Captain Chipman, who who was still a 
prisoner, but on parole at Albany, petitioned the legislature for relief 
The conditions of his parole required him to return to the enemy, 
unless a Dr. George Smyth of the city of Albany, was exchanged for 
himself and servant, before the first day of May following. The 
committee to whom this petition was referred reported, that as 
Captain Chipman was not a subject of the state, nor captured while 
in the immediate service of the same, a compliance would do great 
injustice to subjects of the state, then prisoners with the enemy, and 
anxious for an exchange. Dr. Smyth and family had been allowed to 
go to Canada on parole in October, 1780, to be exchanged for Peter 
Hanson and Adam Fonda of Tr}a)n county. This transaction appears 
not to have been perfected, or if so, was not known to Captain Chipman 
in March, 1781. — L('(jidative Papers, 2,084. Clinton Papers, 8,263. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 101 

a few lilies to Mrs. Sherwood. You will do me 
particular favour to scud it her by the first safe hand. 

I am in a poor situation to continue in this cold 
climate this winter, having no clothes with me but 
what I brought on my back, and destitute of any 
money. Must consequently suffer greatly if no way 
is devised by our legislative body for the relief of the 
state prisoners. My men are very bad clad, and most 
of them without shoes. 

You will please let Mr. Gillet know that my 
accounts of issuings for this month is destroyed, but 
the number of men are about the same of last month. 

I am. Sir, with Esteem your very Humble Serv' 

Adiel Sherwood. 
Col" Livingston, 

Commandino- Levies at Fort Edward. 



Letter from General Heath to Governor Clinton. 

West Point, October 17"\ 1780. 
Sir: 

Major General Greene, a day or two since, ordered 

Colonel Gansevoort's Regiment to the assistance of 

the upper counties. They embarked yesterday, but 

the wind has since been so fresh down the river, as to 

prevent their sailing. I have this day ordered 

Weissenfel's regiment immediately to embark and 

sail for Albany, there to receive the orders of your 

excellency, or the commanding officer. I hope these 



102 NORTHERN INVASION. 

regiments will arrive in season to curb the incursions 
of tlie enemy. 

Colonel Van Schaick arrived here this day, with the 
regiment under his command. I wish he had been 
detained if it was necessary. 

His Excellency General Washington, has been 
pleased to honor me with the command of this post 
and its dependencies. Your Excellency can well form 
a judgment in what state this post is in at present, in 
respect to provisions fuel and forage, and the 
obstructions which the approaching cold season will 
soon throw in the way of obtaining them. 

While I assure you that the interest of the State of Kew 
York and the security of this important post shall have 
my every attention, I earnestly request the continuance 
of your assistance, the salutary effects of which for the 
public service, I have often experienced, and on which 
at present I principally depend. 

I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect. 

Your Most Obedient Servant, 

W. Heath. 
His Excellency Governor CHnton. 



Ldtcrfrom Lieut. Col. Vceder to Hcnrtj Glen. 

Lower Fort Schohary, Ocf 17, 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

The enemy have burnt the whole of Schohary. 
The first fire was discovered about the middle fort, 



NORTHERN INVASION. 103 

8 o'clock this morning. They passed this fort on both 
sides at 4 o'clock this afternoon. They took the whole 
of their booty, and moved down to Harmon Sitney's.^ 
They have fired two swivel shots thro' the roof of this 
church. I have sent three scouts to make some 
discoveries about the middle fort at different times 
this day, and none have as yet returned, l^o express 
has arrived at this post from either fort. By what we 
have seen of the enemy, we suppose their force to be 
between 5 and 600, mostly regulars and tories. 

Y. Yeeder, Lt. Col. 

3. o'clock at night. The express says there were 
150 more of the enemy at the upper part of Schohary. 

To li. Glen, Esq^ 



Letter from General Robert Van Rensselaer to Governor 

Clinton. 
Dear Sir : 

The letter of which the enclosed is a copy, was 
delivered me this morning. The express who brought 
the letter advises, that colonel Yeeder directed him to 
inform Mr. Glen, that 150 of the enemy in addition to 
the number mentioned in his letter, were in the upper 
part of Schohary. 

I shall in an hour or two, as nearly as I can estimate, 
have between 6 and 700 men. Fifteen head of cattle 



' Sidney's place was about one mile from Sloansville at the lower 
end of the flats. 



104 NORTHERN INVASION. 

intended for Fort Schuyler arrived here yesterday. I 
have ordered six to be killed this morning, to victual 
the troops for two days, and as I shall in all probability 
be neces.sitatcd to make use of the rest, and want an 
additional number, your Excellency ^vill perceive the 
necessity of directing the agent to take measures for 
replacing those destined for the fort. The cattle are 
extremely small, and I am informed "will not on an 
average net more than two hundred w' per head. 

As I have been disappointed in procuring the horses 
and wagons I intended, I shall immediately march to 
Fort Hunter, and upon my arrival, take such measures 
as circumstances will admit of, to intercept the enemy's 
retreat. 

The express who brought Colo. Yeeder's letter, 

says that Major "Woolsey sallied from the garrison 

yesterday, and killed five, and took two of the enemy. 

The prisoners are British soldiers. 

I am, very respectfully, 

your Excellency's most obd* serv* 

EoB^ V" Rensselaer.^ 
Schenectady, OcV 18, 9 a. m. 

P. S. — I have directed Colo. Veeder, with all the 
force he can collect from the difierent garrisons, (so 
as not to weaken them too much), to hang on the 
enemy's rear, but to avoid an engagement, and I hope 
to be able to be at hand to support him. 



^ General Robert Van Rensselaer resided at Claverack then in 
Albany eonnty, and nndcr the colonial government, was colonel of 



NORTHERN INVASION. 105 

Letter from G-orernor Clinton to General Schuj/ler. 

Albany, OctoI)er 18, 1780. 

I wrote yon yesterday, since which I have seen your 
letter to Gen^ Ten Broeck, giving an account of the 
enemy's appearance near Wliite Creek. They are 
also at Schohary in very considerable force. They 
have artillery with them, and have completed the 
destruction of that settlement. Thus circumstanced, 
I have been obliged to divide the small force that 
could be raised immediately from the lower parts of 
this county, to oppose the enemy at Ballstown and 
Schohary, and as yet it is impossible to do more than 
detach Col° Schuyler's Reg*, to the assistance of the 
militia in your vicinity. This I have directed Gen. 
Ten Broeck to do, and they are to march immediately. 
Before I left Poughkeepsie, I wrote Gen. "Washington 
accounts of the enemy's appearance on our frontiers. 



militia. He served as a delegate in the provincial congress, and was 
elected to the first, second and fourth sessions of the lower branch of 
the state legislature. On the 25th of February, 1778, he was again 
appointed colonel under state authority, and on the 35th of June, 
1780, was made brigadier general in command of the second brigade 
of Albany county. He held this office until the state militia were 
arranged into five divisions, on the 18th of April, 1800, when he 
became major general of the third division, comprising Columbia, 
Rensselaer, Washington, Clinton and Essex counties. He died at 
his home in Claverack, September 11th, 1803, aged sixty-one years. 
He was the father of Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer, formerly a leading 
lawyer and politician of Claverack, who was secretary of state in 
1813-15. 

14 



IOC) NORTHERN INVASION. 

and tlic capture of Forts Ann and George, and pressed 
the necessity of send^ sonK> troops for onr relief. 

I am Sir, &(-. 

a. c. 

Gen. SclnijJer. 

P. S. I this morning write to Gen. Washington, 
repeating my request for relief, and immediately after 
this is done, I intend to set out for Schenectady, 
leaving Gen. Ten Broeck in command here, with 
orders to forward you further assistance as soon as a 
sufficient numher of militia shall come in to render 
that measure proper. You will immediately order 
Col. Stephen Schuyler's reg' to Saratoga, to join the 
militia collecting there, and assist in the protection of 
the Inhabitants, in that part of the country, against 
the incursions and depredations of the enemy. 

G. C. 



Letter from IJent. Col. Barcnt I. Stoats to Governor 

Clinton. 

Lower Foet, October 18"', 1780. 
This moment your Excellency's letter came to hand. 
Two prisoners from Sir John's army arriv'd at the 
same time, with the following intelligence : that eight 
o'clock this morning, Johnson, Butler and Brant, 
mov'd with their army from Sidney's saw mill, down 
the Mohawk road to the said river, where they were 



NORTHERN INVASION. 107 

to joyiie the party of the enenw from the nor' ward. 

their strength by the ace' of these prisoners, is one 

thousand men, of which were 2 hundred Indians: 

the rest regular troops and torys. Another party of 

150, were gone to Katskill. The post at this phice is 

safe. 

Barent I. Staats,^ Lieut. Coll. 

To his Excellency, 

George Clinton Escf. 

[Forwarded to the care of Henry Glen, Schenectady.] 



Letter from Major J. Lansin// to Governor Clinton. 

Mohawk River, 6 Miles East of Fort Hunter, 

Odd'- 18, 1780, 6 p. m. 
Sir: 

This moment. General Rensselaer is advised by 

express, that the enemy are burning the country in 

the neighborhood of Fort Hunter. Their force could 

not be ascertained when the man came away. 

General Rensselaer intends to push on by moonlight,^ 

as soon as he possibly can. Perhaps your Excellency 

may deem it advisable to order the militia now at 



^This officer belonged to Philip Schuyler's regiment, and was 
commissioned, June 22, 1778. 

^Full moon occurred on the morning of the 13th. The moon arose 
on the 18th, at eight minutes before 10 v. m. 



108 NORTHERN INVASION. 

kSclicneetiuly, to luaivli up so as to cover our rotreut 
sliould we experience a retreat, wliicli we have 
liowever no idea of at present, as the militia evince 
such a disposition to engage, as promises a happy issue. 
I have the honor to be, your Excellency's 

Most Obed* Serv*, 

J. Lansing, Major. 



Letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington. 

Albany, Octo' W\ 1780, 10 p. m. 
Sir : 

I wrote to your Excellency from Poughkeepsie on 

Saturday last,^ and communicated to you the accounts 

which I had then received from this quarter. The 

next day I set out for tins place, and arrived here on 

Monday. Upon my arrival, I found the main liody of 

the enemy which appeared in the northward,^ had 



1 October 14th. 

- Referring to the expedition under Major Christopher Carleton. 
This oflBcer who belonged to tlie 29th regiment, held rank as 
major, from September 14, 1777. He was promoted to lieutenant 
colonel February 19, 1783, and his name was last on the army list in 
1787. 

In the spring of 1778, a Colonel Carleton, nephew of General 
Carleton, was reported as liaving been for some time concealed 
among the toiy inhabitants around Johnstown, as a spy, and that lie 
took the route from thence to Oswego, on his return to Canada. The 
Marquis de La Fayette, in writing from Johnstown, March (i, 1778, 



NORTHERN INVASION. 100 

returned by tlie way of Lake George, and that part of 
the country seemed agam to be in a state of tranquility. 
Yesterday morning, however, I was informed that a 
party had made its appearance at Ballston, and 
destroyed some buildings there, and about noon, I 
received accounts that the enemy were at Schohary, 
and it was confirmed that they had destroyed the 
whole of that valuable settlement. Their numbers of 
one division, are computed at about 600, and the 
amount of the other division is uncertain. They have 
artillery with them. Major Woolsey, who commands 
the levies, made a sally from one of the small forts 
there, and took two regulars, and killed five savages. 
By what route they came, or mean to return, I have 
not been able to ascertain. 

Yesterday morning, I ordered General Van Rensse- 
laer, with some troops to Schenectady, with directions, 
as soon as he could make the proper discoveries, and 
if his force should appear competent, to march and 
endeavor to intercept them. 

By a letter from General Schuyler at Saratoga, I 



urged upon Colonel Gansevoort, the importance of endeavoring to 
capture him, and from his own purse, offered fifty guineas hand 
money (besides all they might find on his person), to any party of 
soldiers or Indians who would bring him in alive. These efforts were 
unsuccessful, and this enterprising person was not apprehended. 
Although mentioned under a difi'erent rank, we conjecture that he 
was the same officer that led the expedition by Avay of Lake Cham- 
plain, in the autumn of 1780. The correspondence relative to his 
supposed presence in the country as a spy, is given in CamphelVs 
Annalii of Try on County (1831), p. 159. 



110 NORTHERN INA^VSION. 

urn informed that tlie enemy yesterday burnt the 
settlement of White Creek, in Charlotte county, and 
the smoke was discernable from the heights near his 
house. The post at Fort Edward, after the removal of 
the stores is evacuated, the levies who were stationed 
there, having- insisted that their time of service is 
expired, and Col" Livingston^ the commanding officer, 
with the other officers are now on their return, I 
have ordered out the whole of the militia from this 
part of the state. A considerable part are already in 
the field, and I shall leave this [place] immediately 
for Schenectady, in order to make the necessary 
arrangements. 

From this state of the matter, your Excellency will 
perceive the necessity of sending a force, if it can 
possibly be spared for the defense of this part of the 
country. 

No dependance can ]>e placed on the militia remain- 
ing long from home, and the three months levies will 
soon be dismissed, so that without some further 
protection, Schenectady and this place will be our 
frontier. 

I received no intelligence from the Grants, either 
whether the enemy have done any mischief there and 
whether their militia is turning out for our assistance. 

I am &c. G. C. 



' Colonel James Livingston of the Continental army. 



NORTHERN INVASION. Ill 

Letter from Governor Chittenden of Vermont, to Governor 

Clinton. 

Bennington, 8 o'clock, evening 18"' Oct., 1780. 
Sir: 

I enclose to your Excellency a copy of a letter 
I this moment received (by Express), from Col" 
Webster,^ requesting the assistance of tlie militia of 
this neighborhood to his assistance. 

I have called for the assistance of the militia of 
Berkshire county, who have attended in the late alarm, 
and are now returning home. The militia of this state 
are still in the north, watching the motions of the enemy, 

I have nevertheless sent for Berkshire militia, to 

call on me as soon as may be, who I shall send 

immediately to your assistance, unless I have counter 

advises from your Excellency, by the time of their 

arrival. 

I am Sir your Excellency's 

Obed' Humble Serv* 

Tho's Chittenden. 
His Excellency Gov"" Clinton. 



1 Alexander Webster was a native of Scotland. He succeeded Col. 
John Williams in command of a militia regiment in Charlotte count}% 
March 4, 1780, and resigned March 29, 1781. He served in the 
provincial congress, was two years in assembly, and from 1777 to 
1785, and from 1790 to 1793 in the state senate, and while a member 
of this body held for five years a place on the council of appoint- 
ment. He was two years first judge of Washington county, and 
held other offices of trust. He died at Hebron, N. Y., Sept. 17, 1810, 
aged seventy-five years. 



112 NORTIIEKN INVASION. 

P. S. This state arc always read}- to cooiDerate in 
any measures to frustrate the designs of the common 
enemy. 



Letter from Isaac Stoutcnhur<jli io Governor CUntov. 

Albany, 19''' October, 1780. 
D'-Sir: 

I acknowledge the rec' of your favour of this date. 

It affords me great satisfaction, that I am able to 

inform your Excellency, that it is in my power to 

comply with your demand, of both cattle and flour, 

(without proceeding to an immediate impress from 

private families). Most of the latter is already on the 

road. The cattle, will be sent on from here early 

to-morrow morning. They consist of 30 head of fine 

cattle. If your Excellency thinks it necessary, after 

this supply, to proceed to impress from private 

families, I stand ready to execute your commands. 

In the meantime, shall wait your Excellency's further 

order, while I am, wdth the most sincere Esteem, & 

regard, your Excellency's 

Most Obedient Humb^ Servt. 

Isaac Stoutenburgh. 

His Excellency, \ 
Gov. Chnton. i 



NOKTITERN INVASION. 113 



Letter from Gnicnd Ten Broeck to Governor Clmion. 

Albany, 10*'' Ocf 10 o'clock, 

ill the niorniiiiy. 
Sir: 

Your Excellency's letter I have received, with the 
inclosed note from Lieut. Col. Staats •} have wrote to 
Col. Van Bergen,^ & Snydcr,Hhe intelligence it contains, 
and an express will go with it instantly. 

I have nothing further from the northward, since 
your Excellency left this, nor from Ball's town. If 
any cattle come, they will he forwarded immediately. 
I will deliver Col. Hay* your message. 
I remain your Excellency's 

most ohedient Ilumhle Servant, 

Ab" Ten Broeck.'^ 



^Barent Staats, appointed lieutenant colonel in Colonel Philip P. 
Schnj^ler's regiment, .June 22, 1778. He died in Bethlehem, Albany 
county, in April 1796. 

'^ Colonel Anthony Van Bergen, appointed June 20, 1778. 
3 Colonel Johannis Snyder of Ulster county, appointed February 
19, 1778, resigned November 2, 1781. 

* Colonel Udny Hay, appointed state agent, June 29, 1780. 

^General Abraham Ten Broeck was descended from one of the 
most ancient Dutch families of Albany, and his father, Dirck Ten 
Broeck, was many years recorder and then mayor of Albany. He 
was born May 13, 1734, began business as a merchant, and in 1753, 
married Elizabeth, the only daughter of Stephen Van Rensselaer 
and aunt to the late General Stephen Van Rensselaer of Albany. He 
was a member of the colonial general assembly from 1761 to 1775, 
and of the provincial congress and conveution which organized a 
state government in 1777, of which latter Ijody he was president. 
He was appointed .Tune 25, 1778, to tlie command of the Albany 

15 



114 NOl^TTTEUN INVASION. 

Letter from General Ten Broeek to Governor Clinton. 

Albany, 19"' Oct., 4 o'clock p. m. 
Sir: 

Mr. Benson's^ favor of this date I have received, and 
have delivered Dr. McCrea's^ note to Dr. Treat.-' He 
is preparing the necessaries, and will send them on 
immediately. Thirty head of cattle, and 50 barrels of 
flour, are this moment going on to Schenectady. My 
exertions shall be used, in forwarding on provisions as 
fast as they come. I beg your Excellency's pardon, 
for opening the inclosed letter from General Schuyler.* 
I wish' I was able to comply with his request. I need 
not tell your Excellency, that it is impossible, con- 
sidering the weak state of my body. I shall continue 
to do every thing in my power to forward the service. 
I have sent hini a copy Mr. Benson's letter, and have 
wrote in the most pressing manner, to the colonel his 



brigade of militia, and upon its division Jnue 25, 1780, remained as 
brigadier of the first brigade until lie resigned from ill health March 
26, 1781. He was state senator from 1780 to 1783, and the first year 
of his term he served on the covmcil of appointment for the western 
district. From 1779 to 1783 he was mayor of Albany, and from 1781 
to 1794, first judge of Albany county. For some years he was 
president of the Albany bank. He died at Albany, January 19, 
1810, in the seventy-sixth year of Ids age. 

^Robert Benson, clerk of the senate. He died in New York 
February, 1823, aged eighty-three years. 

- Dr. Stephen McCrea, medical director of tlie northern department. 

•■'Dr. Malachi Treat. 

* Then at Saratoga, but without official command. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 115 

brother,* now in liis niarcli to Saratoga, to pnsli on, 
and endeavor to intercept Sir Jolin, if lie should escape 
Gen* Rensselaer. 

I remain your Excellency's most humble servt., 

Ab" Ten Broeck. 

P. S. 

Ab' 150 men of Livingston's militia are now crossing 
the ferry. I shall hurry them on. 

His Excellency George Clinton. 



Letter from General Van Bensselaer to Governor Clinton. 

Canajoiiaiiie, opposite Frey's, 11 a. m. 
Sir: 

This morning about nine, I arrived so near the 
enemy's rear, as to afford me a prospect of engaging 
them before noon. They have however, by the 
celerity of their movements, effected their escape to 
Stone Arabia, part of which is now in flames, and 
the whole will probably share the same fate, before I 
can possibly support the distressed inhabitants. 

I intend to ford the river immediately, and march 
in quest of them, but harrassed and fatigued as my 
force is, by a long march, I am apprehensive I shall 



iCol. Stephen J. Schuyler, appointed May 38, 1778; resigned from 
ill health, March 26, 1781. 



IIG NORTHERN INVASION. 

not be able to pursue tlieiu with that dispatch which 

is necessary to overtake them. No exertion however, 

shall be wanting on my part, to effect it. 

Two prisoners who were brought in at Fort Hunter, 

intbrmed Mr. Cuyler, that Sir John intended to return 

l)y the way of Crown Point, tliat he had left his boats 

in the Ticonderoga hdvc, but had since altered his 

intended point to Crown Point, by the way of Stone 

AraT)ia.^ 

I am, your Excellency's obedt servt. 

Rob'' Van Rensselaer. 

Dubois will join me at Walrath's,- about 2 mile 
above this. I am this moment informed that Colonel 
Brown, who with a party opposed the enemy was 
defeated. His loss is not ascertained. The enemy 
are, it is said, between 600 and 1,000 strong. 



1 Stone Arabia, was the uame of a patent of land north of the 
Mohawk, and its principal settlement was about three miles from the 
river, about equally distant from Canajoharie and Fort Plain. This 
patent embraced 12,700 acres, and was granted October 19, 1723, by- 
Governor Burnet to John Christian Garlack and twenty-six other 
Palatinates, who came over in 1710. The patent recites an Indian 
purchase February 12, 1722, for the value of £300 in goods, specifies 
the share belonging to each associate, reserves all ship-timber, 
requires an annual rent, of two shillings six pence for every hundred 
acres, and has the usual condition of settlement within a limited term 
of years. Patents^ ix, 83 : Secretary's Office. 

The German Lutheran Church and parsonage at Stone Arabia were 
])urned on the day of tlie ))attle. On the 12tli of November, 1784, the 
Rev. John Frederick Hies, its i)astor, petitioned for a grant of con- 
fiscated lands at Johnstown to aid in rebuilding it. 

2 John Walrath, or Walrad,kept a ferry opposite Fort Plain, about 
lialf a mile above the modern village of this name. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 117 

Letter from Sampson Dyckman to Gorcrnor Clinton. 

1 o'clock. 
Sir: 

Col. Livingston^ is just arrived. He tells me pro- 
visions are coming on, both flour and cattle. I have 
procured a number of baggs, and impressed some good 
horses, and shall be on as soon as possible. Col" Hay^ 
will be here with more provisions in about three hours. 

I am, &c., 

S. Dyckman. 
Gov" Clinton. 



Letter from General Van Bensselaer to Governor Clinton. 

Sir: 

The enemy was, by the last intelligence I can 
collect, and from their burnings, about a mile in 
advance of my brigade. I have about 900 men, 
including about 50 Indians. I shall pursue with as 
much dispatch, as is consistent with safety to the 
troops under my command. 

I am your Excellency's obed' servant. 

Eob'' Van Rensselaer. 



^Probably Lieut. Col. Henry Livingston, jr., who then commanded 
the Livingston manor regiment, in place of Col. Peter R. Livingston, 
who resigned September 21, 1780. 

'^ Udny Hay, agent for supplying troops. 



118 NORTHERN INVOVSION. 

A deserter who arrived this afternoon, advises that 
the enemy's force does not exceed 550 men. 

Mohawk river, about 2 miles above camp Rensselaer, 
north side of the river, ^ after 5 p. m. 



Letter from Col. Lewis Dubois to General Van Rensselaer. 

11 o'clock. 
Dear Coll : 

We are now as far as Fall Hill, Bell's House,^ in 

full pursuit of the enemy. They passed this place, 

sun half an hour high. They spoke with some people 

here, and said that they had 1200 pick'd men, and 

could go where they pleased. After they passed this, 

a smart firing was heard, supposed to be at the fort, as 

they passed tlie German Flatts. I have three more 

prisoners of their party. No time must be lost in 

pursuing them. The prisoners say they have great 

numbers wounded ; that Sir John is wounded through 

the thigh. They enquired of Esq'' Bell, particularly, 

concerning the strength of Fort Schuyler, and their 

number there. 



iFall Hill was a little south of the Little Falls. Capt. George 
Henry Bell, a brother-in-law of General Herkimer, was wounded at 
Oriskany, and thereby disqualified from military service at this time. 
He was appointed a justice of the peace February 2, 1778. A notice 
of him is i;ivcn in Benton'' s Herldiner Cofinfi/, p. 131. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 119 

They left all tlicir cattle behind them, when they 

cross'd the river. Escf Bell supposed their numbers 

to be about 400. They divided at the Fall Hill, one 

part by German Flatts, the other by Andrustown.^ 

I am yours sincerely, 

Leavis Duboys.^ 
Gen^ Rensselaer. 



Letter from Col. Lewis Didms to Governor Clinton. 

Fort Herkimee, 1 o'clock. 
D-^Sir: 

I am here ; pursued the enemy so close, that I 

prevented them from burning or doing the least 

damage to the inhabitants. From what I can learn 

by the Inhabitants, the enemy is not above four 

miles in front of us. My men much fatigued, 

without provisions, I must here make a halt untill I 

can get some provisions to refresh them. 



^The testimony subsequently offered 'before a court of inquiry 
shows that the pursuing part}' lost all traces of the route of the 
enemy beyond Fort Herkimer, and that some Indian scouts I'eturned, 
unable to find their trail. Andrustown was a settlement in the 
present town of Warren, Herlvimer county. Seven families were 
living here when the revolution began. The settlement was 
plundered and burnt in July 1778, and some of the inhabitants taken 
prisoners. 

2 This name has usually been spelled Du Bois, or Dubois, and was 
sometimes thus written, we believe, by the colonel himself, at a later 
period. The family was of Huguenot descent, and the name is 
evidently of French origin, 



120 NORTHERN INVASION. 

Tlie enemy is very miicli fatigncd. Tliey travelled 
almost all last iiiglit, witliont any refreshment. They 
must make a halt. 

This moment I rec** information, that tlie enemy is 
at a place call'd Shoemaker's Land, about four miles 
from here. Gen^ Rensselaer this moment appears in 
sight, with the militia. 

The enemy arc l)ending their course for Buck 

Island.i 

I am, yours, 

Lewis Duboys. 

P. S. My men have agreed to march without eating. 
I expect to attack them in 3 hours time. 



Warrant for Impresswg Cattle and Flour. 

By his Excellency George Clinton, Esquire 

Governor of the State of New York &c. 

&c. &c. 

To Col" Abraham Wemple, & Henry Glen, Esqrs. or 

either of them. Greeting : 

The emergency requiring the same, you are hereby 

authorized and required, to impress forty head of fat 



^ Now Carleton island, in the St. Lawrence. It was then fortified 
and maintained as a rendezvous of parties sent out upon the frontiers. 
A portion of tlie works of this fort were excavated from the rock, 
and its ruins are still an object of much interest. A small guard of 
invalids was kept here by the British until 1813, although the island 
is on the American side of the boundary line. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 121 

cattle, and sixty barrels of flour for tlie use and service 
of the army. For which this shall he your warrant. 
Given at Schenectady, this 19th October 1780. 

Geo. Clinton. 
The provision impressed immediately to be for- 
warded to the troops mider my command. 

Geo. Clinton. 



A Return of Ordnance and Stores taken from the British 
Army commanded hij Sir John Johnson. 

Fort Rensselaer, Octo. 19'\ 1780. 
I Piece Brass Ordnance, 3 P'^ mth implements 
complete ; 43 Rounds round shot fixed ; 10 do canister; 
1 Quadrant; 2. Powder measures; 1 Hand saw; 1 
Four P^ W; 1 Half do; 1 Quart do; 1 Scale beam; 
1 Mallet & set ; 20 Fuses ; 1 Scane marlin ; 2 Port 
Wires; 1 Cold chisel; 1 Augur; 1 Punch; 1 Scane 
Quick match ; 100 W Corn powder ; 1 Dredging box. 
Jo. Driskill, Lieut. Artillery. 



The Invasion from the North. 

From Loudon's New York Packet, and Amei'ican Advertiser (Fislikill), 
October 19, 1780. 
" By the arrival of yesterday post from Albany, we 

have it reported : That Sir John Johnson, had, with a 
1'6 



122 NORTHERN INVASION. 

party said to he about 500 nion, eonic down tlic Mdliawk 
river, and advanced witliin six miles of Jolinstown ; 
when, hearing that a party of our three-months men 
lay there, he contented himself with burning a few 
houses, killing and carrjdng off some inhabitants. 

Another party of about 800, commanded by Major 
Carleton, nephew to Gen. Carleton, came down the 
lake from St. John's and advanced to Fort Ann, 
which was garrisoned by about 70 men, among whom 
were 14 Continental soldiers. They having cannon 
with them, and the fort being only stockaded, every 
shot made a breach. It was however defended by 
Capt. Sherwood, with the greatest gallantry, until 
two thirds of his men were slain, when he surrendered.^ 
This party also destroyed several houses, killed some 
men, and took the women and children prisoners. 



'In the introduction (page 44), we liave followed the statement 
above given, although ditfereut from that given iu a note to Wash- 
ington's letter to the president of congress, found in Sparks' s Life and 
Writrngs of Wasfiington, vii, 269. The note referred to, is as follows : 

" * * * A large force came up Lake Champlain and took 
Fort George and Fort Anne, with all the troops stationed in them. 
Captain Chipman commanded a part of Warner's regiment at Fort 
George. On the morning of the 11th of October, he despatched an 
express to Fort Edward for the purpose of obtaining provisions. 
While on his way, this person was fired upon by a party of twenty- 
five men, but he escaped and returned to the fort. Captain Chipman 
supposing the party to consist of a party from the enemy, sent out all 
his garrison except fourteen men. This detachment met the enemy 
between Bloody Pond and Gage's Hill, where a conflict ensued, in 
which almost every man was either killed or taken. The enemy 
marched to Fort George, which after a short resistance was surren- 
dered l)y capitulation. Colonel Warner and Lieutenant Safford were 
absent. The force of tlie eneuiy was estimated at eight hundred 



NORTHERN INVASION. 123 

Tliey were pursued by Col. Livingston as far as 
Bloody Pond, but too late, they having retreated to 
their boats and made oft'. So far, the reports from 
that quarter, which we hope are not so bad as related-. 
In our next, we expect to have a more exact narrative 
of this unhappy affair." 



Letter from General Schwjler to Governor Clinton. 

Saratoga, Odo. 20"', 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

Your Excellency's favor of yesterday morning from 

Caughnawaga, I had the pleasure to receive at five in 

the afternoon. I am happy to learn that Sir John 

Johnson lias been overtaken and put to route. When 



British troops, two liuudred Indians, and two companies of tories. 
Twenty-eiglit of the garrison were killed and fifty-six taken prisoners. 
Two days previously, Captain Sherwood had surrendered Fort Anne 
and the whole garrison, consisting of seventy-seven men. 

"The invading troops approached Fort Edward, but were probably 
prevented from making an attack by a stratagem of Colonel Livingston, 
who commanded there. Hearing of the incursion of the enemy he 
wrote a letter to Captain Sherwood, on the morning of the day in 
which Fort Anne was surrendered, saying he was very strong and 
would support that garrison if attacked. He gave this letter to a 
messenger, who he had little doubt would carry it to the enemy, 
which he is presumed to have done, and thus to have saved that post 
from the fate which had befallen the others. The garrison did not 
amount to seventy men. Parties penetrated near to Saratoga. 
Thirty-five houses were burned.— if^. Letter from Colonel Livingston, 
Octoler 12th — Colonel Warner's Letter, October 30^/t." 

General Schujder states that the force at Fort Edward consisted of 
one hundred and fiftj" men. 



1:^4 NORTHERN INVASION. 

your letter acrived, Ave liad about 150 men at Fort 
Edward, and as many more had arrived here, about ten 
iu the morning ; those at Fort Edward without any beef, 
and those here with none but what I coukl furnish 
them. All my cattle fit for the knife are already 
killed, and I have sent to try and collect some more, 
but I fear a supply will arrive too late to push a party 
in pursuit of the enemy who were at BallstoAvn. I 
have however, sent to Fort Edward on the subject, but 
with little hopes that any will move from thence. 
One of the enemies party w^ho stole into the country, 
and was taken,^ informs that Major Carleton intended 
to remain at Ticonderoga, and to push for White 
Creek, as soon as the militia should Ije retired. 

The prisoner calls himself Ensign, and came from 
l^ew York in August last. Another villain has gone 
past here who corroborates the account, as some tories 
advise, with whom he lodged. 

The panic that has seized the people is incredible. 
"With all my efforts, I cannot prevent numbers from 
deserting their habitations, and I very much appre- 
hend that the whole wall move, unless the militia 
remam alone, until permanent relief can be procured. 
I am dear Sir most sincerely 

your Excellency's most ob' serv\ 

Pii. Schuyler. 
His Excellency Gov. Clinton, &c. 



^ Alluding to James Van Dricsen, ■\vho was subsotiuently tried by a 
court martial and sentenced to be hung as a spj'. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 125 

P. S. The women and eliildreu, whose husbands 
have gone to Canada still remain here. They will be 
an intolerable burden to the country if they remain 
in it all winter. I beg your Excellency as soon as 
you can spare time to turn your attention to their 
disposition. 



Letter from Governor Clinton to General Schuyler. 

Albany, October 26, 1780. 
Sir: 

I have been favored with your letter of the 20th 
Inst. We are just returned fi-om the pursuit of Sir 
John, though unfortunately without that complete 
success which I informed you we had reason to expect, 
after the engagement at Canajoharie. There are, 
however, about 40 prisoners, and the enemy have lost 
their baggage and artillery. This action also stopped 
them in their devastations, and obliged them to fly 
with precipitation. 

Col. Gansevoort's reg'' has marched to your frontier, 
and this I doubt not, will give you immediate pro- 
tection, and a proportion of the levies will be ordered 
to that part of the country as soon as they are raised. 

The necessary passports for the women and children 
you mention shall be made out immediately after I 



126 NORTHERN INVASION. 

aui furnished with tlieir iiaines, and the steps taken 
prescribed hy the hxw made for tliat purpose. 

I am, etc. G. C. 



Letter fro/n Governor Clinton to Colonel Klock. 

Fort Rensselaer, Oct. 23^^, 1780. 
Sir : 

The late invasion of the enemy, has delayed the 

raising of the troops which are intended to relieve the 

levies in this county, and it will be some days more, 

before any troops can be collected for the defence of 

the several posts on the river. You will therefore 

order out from the county militia, such number of 

men to those posts as the officer commanding the 

Department shall require, and you may be assured 

they Avill be relieved as soon as possible. 

Yours &c. G. C. 

To Col. Klock commanding the Militia of Tryon Co. 



Letter from Governor Clinton to Colonel Bellinger. 

Fort Herkimer, Octo. 23^ 1780. 

To Col. Bellinger. 
Sir : 

Until troops can be raised for the defense of the 
country, it is necessary that the militia l^e detached to 



NORTHERN INVASION. 127 

hold tlie frontier posts. Yon will therefore order 
twenty men of yonr regiment into Fort Dayton, and 
the same number into Fort Herkimer, this day. 
There will be officers left at these posts to direct 
the duty and your men will be relieved as soon as 

possible. 

I am, &c. G. C. 



Order for Garrisoning Frontier Posts. 

Head Quarters Fort Herkimer 23'' Oct^, 1780. 

Col. Yrooman is without delay to embody as many 
men of his regiment as he shall deem sufficient for the 
garrisoning of the several small posts at Schohary, and 
for keeping out scouts on that part of the western 
frontier, and to station them as he shall esteem best 
for the protection and security of the inhabitants, and 
to relieve them occasionally. Such of the levies raised 
for the defence of the frontiers as are in that quarter 
are to remain there, and be continued in their present 
service. 

By order of his Excellency the Gov''. 

Stephen Lush, A. D. Camp. 



128 NORTHERN INVASION. 



Letter from Colonel Alexander Webster to Governor 

Clinton. 

White Creek, Ocf 24"', 1780. 
D'' Governor : 

Ever since the lOtli Instant, we have been all armed 
and embodied. Ever since our return from Fort 
Edward, the alarms came both from the westward 
and north. I kept out scouts between Fort Edward 
and Skenesborough, and shall continue till otherwise 
provided for. I received last night, a letter from 
General Allen, a copy of which I should have sent your 
Excellency if the want of paper had not prevented 
me. But this much he says : the enemy, my scouts 
have discovered them and been reconnoitring their 
motions from Saturday. Yesterday eight days ago, 
their shipping lay off Mount Independence. They 
moved down the lake ; lay awhile at Putnam's Point. 
A large body of them at the same time occupied the 
westward shore, as appeared from their fires, and pass- 
ing to and from their shipping. They moved from 
thence to Bulwagga Bay, and Grog Bays, Payments 
Mills, and its vicinity. The last scout informs, that 
they reconnoitred those bays and other parts of the 
lake from the Beautiful Elm, in Panton, but dis- 
covered none of the enemy or their shipping, tho 5 of 
their vessels had been discovered in those bays the day 
before. They further add, that they heard a British 



NORTHERN INVASION. 129 

firing of small arms, down tlie lake, but it being- 
foggy tliey could not see the enemy. This contains the 
particulars. Date, Oct° 22\ 2 of tlie clock p. m., 1780. 
Sir, As I have wrote to you before and have 
received no answer, and as we jointly joined ofiicers 
and principal inhabitants in council, and sent Major 
McCracken ^ and Squire Hussel, with our resolves to 
your Excellency, and as the^^, hearing of your being 
at Schenectady, only wrote, and sent the resolves, I 
can only add, I do my best to keep the people from 
moving off, and act upon the defensive, till I hear from 
your Excellency, being in great haste, must begg to 
be excused and remain your Excellency's very obliged 

and Humble Servant, 

Alex^ AYebster. 



Extract of a Letter from Capt. Jonathan Laurence, Jan., 
to Col. Samuel DrakeJ^ 



Fort Schuyler, Oct" 24'", 1780. 
On the 22*^ Inst., agreeable to orders from the gov'" 
and Coll Malcolm, a party of 2 C[aptains] 2 Lpeuten- 
ants] 4 S[ergeants] and 50 Privates, commanded by 



1 Joseph McCracken had resigned tlie office of major in the fourth 
Continental battalion, April 11, 1780. He died in Salem, N. Y., in 
May, 1825, in his eighty-ninth year. 

2 Colonel Drake was of Westchester county, and had been formerly 
appointed to command a regiment of militia in the Continental 
service. 

17 



l'^)0 NORTHERN INVASION. 

Capt. Yroomaii/ Joshua [Drake,]^ tlie other Cap' was 
sent out ill order to liarrass the Enemy's front and 
flank, and if possible to destroy the boats in Onondaga 
Lake,^ which could it have been eflected, would have 
been the means of the whole of their force falling into 
the hands of Gen. Rensselaer, who was follomng them 
in their rear. On their arrival at Canashraga,* we 
found the enemy had just moved oft', and that 7 men 
of the party had deserted and finding the enemy to be 
numerous by their tracks, and the militia not pursuing 
their rear so close as they had reason to expect the 
oiScers, agreed to retreat back to the fort. They had 
returned three miles, destroying the Indian settle- 
ments, when unfortunately my unhappy friend, with 
the party, were surrounded hy almost 500, who they 
discovered not until the enemy gave the Indian shout. 
Two of the party, after the enemy began to disarm 
them, pushed thro' them, who fired several shots, but 
fortunately they escaped. One of them was my 
man, who Joshua had taken as a waiter. He arrived 
about an hour since." 



' Capt. Walter Vrooman, of Col. John Harper's levies, appointed 
May 11, 1780. He remained a prisoner until the close of the war, 
and died in Guilderlaud, Albany Co., Feb. 17, 1817, aged seventy years. 

^ A captain in Major Van Bimschoten's corps, commissioned July 
1, 1780, and also remained a long time prisoner. He subsequently 
joined an expedition into the Indian country, and was killed in the 
battle of the Miami, Nov. 4, 1791. 

■' P robably intended for Oneida lake. 
* Cauascraga. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 131 



Memorial from the Bihabitants of SchoiectaJi/. 

To his Excellency George Clinton, Esquire, Governor 
of the State of N'ew York, &c. 

The memorial of the Inhabitants of the town of 
Schenectady, humbly sheweth : 

That Col. WempeP has received orders from 
General Ten Broeck, to send seventy men from his 
Regiment to Fort Rensselaer. 

And whereas, the present situation of this place is 
become a frontier town, which we have reason to 
believe the enemy aims to destroy, and which we, 
3^our memorialists are a good deal concerned about, 
particularly when we consider the different settlements 
round about us. If we turn our eyes to the north, we 
find a settlement called Galloway,^ and another called 
Peasley, who are all enemies to the country, and even 
Balls Town, a great part of them. To the Southward 
from us, we have the Hellebergh, which are likemse 
mostly tories, at which places the enemy may lay con- 
cealed, untill they find an opportunity to destroy this 
place. And one half of our Regiment are going to 
these settlements. 

We, your memorialists, therefore humbly pray, that 
your Excellency will take our situation in consider- 



1 Abraham Wempel was then colonel of the Schenectady regiment. 
His commission was dated June 30, 1778. 
"^ Galway, now a town in Saratoga county. 



132 NORTHERN INVASION. 

ation, and grant tliat our Regiment may remain at 
liomc, to defend tlic place, and as Balls Town is like- 
wise exposed to great danger of another attack of tlio 
enemy, we lying nearest to them might on occasion 
be a great assistance to the good people of that place. 
And we, your memorialists as in duty bound shall 

ever pray. 

[Signed by forty-one citizens.] 

Schenectady, October 24th, 1780. 



Letter froiii Governor Clinton to Ebenezer JRussell} 

Albany, Oct. 26, 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

I am favored with your letter of the 20th Inst. Col. 
Gansevoort has marched his reg* for the defence of the 
northern frontiers, and as soon as the levies are raised, 
a portion of them will be ordered for the same pur- 
pose. This, I hope, will give you security, and pre- 
serve the country against further incursions of the 
enemy. The inhabitants of Charlotte county, may 
rest assured of an equal attention to their safety with 
those of any other part of the state. 

I am, &c., G. C. 

Ebenezer Russell, Esq''. 



' Mr. Russell was at this time a state senator, and resided at Salem. 



NORTHERN INVASION. loo 

Letter from Governor Haldimand of Canada. 

From the London Gazette, Whitcliall, Jan. G, 1781. 

Extract of a letter from General Haldimand, governor 
and commander-in-chief of his Majesty's forces in the 
pro^dnce of Quebec, to Lord George Germain, one of 
his Majesty's principal secretaries of state; received 
by his Majesty's ship Danae. 

Quebec, October 25, 1780. 

"I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship, that 
I have just received an express from Major Caiieton, 
who commands one of the detachments mentioned in 
my letter to your Lordship of the 17th ultimo. 

The secrecy and dispatch with which this detachment 
penetrated, prevented any opposition of consequence 
on the part of the enemy ; and on the 10th and llth 
instant, the garrisons of Fort Ann and Fort George, 
surrendered prisoners of war. 

Major Carleton, who has, as well as his detachment, 
shown great zeal and activity in this affair, ha^dng 
fully answered the purposes for which he is sent, is 
returned to Crown Point, where he is to remain as 
long as the season will permit the vessels to navigate 
the lake, in order to draw the attention of the enemy. 

The reports already pubhshed on all occasions, by 
the enemy, of cruelties committed by the Indians, are 
notoriously false, and propogated merely to exasperate 



134 NOKTIIEKN INVASION. 

tlie ignoi'aiit and deluded [»eople. In tliis late instance, 
Major Carleton informs me, tliey 1)eliaved witli the 
greatest moderation, and did not strip, or in any respect 
ill use their prisoners. 

I inclose for your Lordship's information, a list of 
the killed, wounded and prisoners. 

A party of 100 men and ]\lohawk Indians, crossed 
Lake Champlain, with Major Carleton, to cooperate 
with Sir John Johnson,^ who must be by this time, 
upon the Mohawk river, and another party of 200 
Canadian Indians with their proper officers, under the 
command of Lieutenant Haughton- of the 53'^ regiment, 
marched the same time towards the Connecticut river. 
They are returned, having brought away 32 prisoners, 
without any loss, although pursued by a superior force, 
of which, it is thought many were killed. 

I every day expect to hear of Sir John Johnson's 
success upon the MohaM^k river." 

"P. S. Nov. 2. 1 have kept this open, in hopes to 
give your Lordship on account of the party which was 
sent upon the Mohawk river, under the command of 
Sir John Johnson. The enemy by the means of the 
Oneida Indians, who deserted from Niagara, had 
received information of the intended attack ujDon the 



' This may have been the expedition that left the lake at Bulwagga 
bay, and by an interior route fell upon Ballston settlement. 

2 Richard and William Haughton, were at this time lieutenants in the 
53d. It is luicertain which was the one referred to. Details of the 
operations of this pni'ty are given in UaWfi Eaatern Vermont, p. 383. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 135 

Moliawk river, and had prepared accordingly ; but this 
did not prevent liis success, though it occasioned him 
to meet with a great opposition, I have just received 
a letter from Sir John, wherein he acquaints me, that 
he had destroyed the settlements of Schohary and 
Stone Arabia, and laid waste a great extent of country. 
He had several engagements with the enemy, in which 
he came ofl' victorious. In one of them, near Stone 
Arabia, he killed a Colonel Browne, a notorious and 
active rebel, with about 100 officers and men.^ 

The vessel being under sail, I have only time to 
inclose the return of the killed wounded and missing. 

I liave the pleasure to acquaint your Lordship, from 
Sir John's letter, that I have great reason to hope, 
that many of the missing will find their way to 
Oswego or Magara, as some Indians and rangers well 
acquainted with the woods are with them. I cannot 
finish, without expressing to your Lordship, the 
perfect satisfaction which I have, from the zeal, spirit 
and activity, with which Sir John Johnson had 
conducted this arduous enterprise." 

lieturn of the killed and lootmded of the detachmeyit 
under the command of Major Qirleton, tJie 11th of October, 
1780. 

" 34'"' regiment, 1 private killed, 1 sergeant and 1 
private wounded. — King's rangers, 1 private killed. — 



^ The real number was forty, including Colonel Brown. 



136 NORTHERN INVASION. 

Major Jossup's corps, 1 private wounded. — Indians, 

1 killed, 1 wounded. 

Deserted, 84th regiment, 1 private; McAlpin's, 1 
ditto." 

Return of the killed, loounded and prisoners tahen at 
Forts Ann and George, the 10th and 11th of October, 1780, 

" Killed, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 23 pri- 
vates. — "Wounded, 1 lieutenant, 1 private. — Prisoners, 

2 captains, 2 lieutenants, 114 privates." 

Betum of the Jailed, ivounded and missing of the detach- 
ment on the expedition to the Mohawk river, under the 
command, of Licidencmt Colonel Sir John Johnson in Oct. 
1780. 

"Royal artillery; 1 private missing. — 8th, or the 
King's regiment; 1 private Mlled, 1 drummer, 3 
privates missing. — 34th regiment; 13 privates miss- 
ing. — Chasseurs, 4 privates missing, 2 of them 
wounded. — The King's royal regiment of ISlew York, 

3 privates killed, 1 lieutenant wounded, 13 privates 
missing. — Rangers, 1 captain, 1 sergeant, 16 privates 
missing; 3 of them wounded. — Indians, 5 killed, and 
Captain Joseph Brandt wounded. Deserted of the 
Royal ISTew York regiment, 3 privates." 

Meturn of the rebels killed and taken on the expedition to 
the Mohaivk river, in October, 1780. 

"On the Mohawk river, and at Stone Arahia, the 
18th, 19th and 20th October, prisoners, 10 privates; 



NORTHEEN INVASION. 137 

killed, one colonel, 100 privates. At Canaglisiorai^a, 
the 23*^ of October, prisoners, 2 captains, 1 lieutenant, 
4 sergeants, 4 corporals, 45 privates; killed, 1 lieutenant, 
3 privates." — Almon's Bcmcmhravcer, xi, 81. 



Address hy the Mayor and Common Council of Albany, to 
Governor Clinton. 

To His Excellency, George Clinton, Escf 
Governor of tlie State of New York, General, 
and Commander in chief of the jSIilitia, and 
Admiral of the navy of the same. 
The Respectful address of the Mayor Aldermen and 
commonalty of the city of Albany. 
May it Please your Excellency : 

We, the mayor aldermen and commonalty of the 
city of Albany, beg leave to congratulate your 
Excellency on your safe return to this place. 

It affords us the highest satisfaction, that your 
Excellency has, by the suffrages of the people at the 
last general election, been continued as Chief 
Magistrate of the state : ^ and we reflect with pleasure, 
on the prospect of a continuation of those civil and 
religious liberties, which we in common with other of 



'At the triennial election of governor in May of this year, Governor 
Clinton was reelected by 3,264 majority.— i?/;7"«^fo«'.s Gazette. 
18 



138 NORTHERN" INVASION. 

our fellow citizens have enjoyed, under our free 
constitution and your wise administration. 

While we lament the late depredations committed 
by a barbarous and savage enemy, on the frontiers of 
this state, it gives us infinite pleasure, that your 
Excellency (ever attentive to the preservation and 
protection of its inhabitants, and to punish the 
insolence and cruelty of the foe), has manifested a 
disposition, and exerted your endeavor to repel their 
incursion, and altho unsurmountable difiSculties have 
arisen, against effecting the compleat capture of their 
forces, yet we congratulate your Excellency on their 
defeat at Canajohary, by the militia and levies, under 
the command of Brigadier General Rensselaer; and 
permit us to add, that our happiness is encreased by 
the consideration, that the enemy were restrained 
from the completion of their purpose, by the vigorous 
pursuit of your Excellency with the troops ; whereby 
many valuable buildings and great quantities of grain 
devoted to destruction in the minds of the enemy were 
preserved. 

We wish your Excellency every happiness in public 
and private life, and whatever enemies to our peace 
and mankind in general, may conceive from the 
intriguing schemes of their enterprising politicians, 
we trust that good Providence, which has so often 
protected the people of the United States of America, 
from the secret acts and machinations of the enemy, 
will abate their pride, and confound their devices. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 139 

In testimony of the bigli sense we entertain, of your 

Excellency's zeal and fidelity in promoting tlie public 

good, we beg leave to present your Excellency with 

the freedom of their city. 

By order, 

Ab'" Ten Broeck, Mayor. 
Albcmy, Octob. 2&\ 1780. 



Beply of Governor Glmton to the Foregoing Address, 

Gentlemen : 

I thank you for this polite address and the favorable 
sentiments you have been pleased to express of my 
election to the chief Magistracy of the State. 

While with you, I lament the late devastation upon 
our frontiers, it affords me great satisfaction that by 
the vigorous exertion of the country, and the attack 
upon the enemy at Canajohary they were prevented 
from the completion of their cruel purposes, and com- 
pelled to seek their safety by a disgraceful and pre- 
cipitate retreat. 

I accept, gentlemen with pleasure, the freedom of 

your city, and be assured I shall always consider this 

act of your corporation as a most honorable testimony 

that my conduct has received the approbation of my 

fellow citizens. 

I am, &c., Gr. C. 



140 NORTPIERN INVASION. 

Marchim/ Orders of Colonel Weissenfds. 

Albany, October 2G'", 1780. 
ISir: 

To-morrow, you will iiiarcli your regiment for 
Schenectady. The following day, you are to detach 
the Levies incorporated with your regiment, to the 
German Flatts. The officer who shall command 
them, will receive instructions from Colonel Malcolm, 
who, as he has for some time past commands in the 
Department, is best acquainted with the posts to be 
occupied, and the means for obtaining supplies. You 
w^ill hold yourself ready to march with the residue of 
the regiment, on the shortest notice. 

I am, sir, your very hum^ servt, 

Gr. C. 



Letter from General Schui/ler to Governor Clinton. 

Saratoga, October 27'^ 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

Yesterday, I received the inclosed. Part of Col° 

Gansevoorts regiment marched immediately, and the 

remainder moves this morning. I question whether 

the enemy will make a second incursion this way, but 

I have my apprehensions for White Creek. I intended 

to have done the honor to have waited on your 



NORTHERN INVASION. 141 

Excellency at Albany, bnt should the enemy make a 
penetration, my presence here will be absolutely 
necessaiy. The militia at Fort Edward, have killed 
their last cattle, and I fear they will not be supplied 
in this quarter, I therefore intreat that some may be 
sent from below. 

Mr. McFarlan informs me, that the Indians at 
Schenectady will be destitute of provisions in a few 
days, and that Colo. Hay gives no hopes of a supply. 
Permit me to intreat your Excellency's intervention. 
I wish your Excellency could take a ride to this place 
before you return to, Poughkeepsie. 

I opened the enclosed from Col° Webster, appre- 
hending it might contain some information, and 
knoT\dng you was then to the Westward. 

The women and children which are here, if they 

dont go to Canada, must be removed into the country, 

as they cannot possibly subsist here. If they are sent 

to Canada, I wish Jacob Snyder, and Abraham Mills' 

families were detained, and that your Excellency 

would order it so. Their husbands have thrown out 

some threats, which they say [they] will execute, as 

soon as their families are out of our possession. 

I am. Dear Sir, with respect. 

Esteem & Regard, Your Excellency's 

Most obedient, humble serv'., 

Ph. Schuyler. 
His Excellency, Gov. Clinton. 



142 NORTIIEKN INVASION. 

'Letter from General Ten Broeck to Governor Clinton. 

Albany, 29"' Octo% 1780. 
Sir: 

The inclosed copy of a letter I received last night 
from Coll° Van Woert. In consequence of it, I have 
ordered my brigade to march immediately/ except 
three Regiments, viz. Vrooman's,^ Wemple's^ and 
Cuyler's.* The latter as they may be soon called out 
to march at the shortest notice. The other two I 
intended to leave home, unless there is an absolute 
necessity for them. 

As soon as I get any further accounts, I shall send 
them to your Excellency. 

With great regard and Esteem, I remain 

Your Excellency's Most obedient humble servt, 

Ab™ Ten Bedeck, 
His Excellency Governor Clinton. 



Letter from Colonel Lewis Van Woert to General Ten 

Broeck. 

Cambridge, Oct. 28, 1780. 
I have just now received an express from Coll "Web- 
ster from Granville, that a body of the enemy have 

1 This order was countermanded. 

2 Peter Vrooman, of Schoharie. 

3 Abraham Wemple, of Schenectady. 

* Abraham Cuyler, of Albany. He was commissioned March 3, 1780. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 143 

landed at Skenesborougli, yesterday at one o'clock in 
the afternoon.^ 

As tlie enemy seem determined to burn White 
Creek, witliont assistance from farther parts, we wont 
be able to hinder them to push down. 

Their force seems to be two thousand five hundred 
strong, to the best intelligence I can get. I got word 
likewise, that the enemy had possession of Castle 
Town, and for that reason I dont expect assistance 
from the Grants. 

This from your Humble Servt, 

Lewis Yan Woert,^ Coll". 
' The Honb^ Gen^ Ten Broeck. 



Letter from Governor Clinton to James Duane? 

POUGHKEEPSIE, OctO. 29''^ 1780. 

Dear Sir : 

I returned late last evening from Tryou county, and 
have only time at present, by Mr. Ray, who is just 
stopped here, on his way to Phil", to acknowledge the 
receipt of your letter by M"" Knolton, who arrived the 



1 This rumor was subsequ8utly disproved. 

2 Van Woert, colonel of the Cambridge district regiment in Albany 
county, was appointed April 4, 1778, and resigned Feb. 26, 1781. 

* Mr. Duane was then a delegate from New York in the Continental 
congress. 



144 NORTHERN INVASION. 

evening before I left home. Col° Benson informs me 
of tlie receipt of another letter from you, by Mr. Chin, 
which was forwarded to me at Albany, but which, as 
I returned by water, I have not yet received. 

I must therefore refer you to the enclosed papers, 
for an account of our and the enemy's proceedings on 
the frontiers, as far as it respects men, but I have the 
mortification to inform you that for want of a 
permanent and adequate force, and before a suiRcient 
body of the militia could be assembled to prevent it, 
the whole of the valuable settlements of Schoharie, 
and a part of the settlem*' at Ball's Town, and almost 
the whole of the intermediate country. On both sides 
of the Mohawk river, from Fort Hunter to Fort 
Rensselaer, at the upper end of Canajoharie including 
the settlement of Stone Arabia, are burnt and laid 
waste. 

On a moderate computation, we have lost at least 
150,000 bushels of wheat, besides other grain and 
forage, and 200 dwellings. Schenectady may now be 
said to become the limits of our western frontier, and 
the first object worth a new enterprise. 

I am not surprised at the conduct of Congress with 
respect to our dispute with the people on the Grants, 
for upwards of a year past, it has appeared to me, that 
they were encouraged and supported in their revolt, 
and that delay was studied to strengthen their 
opposition. There are many however, who firmly 
believed that Congress would take up the matter, and 



NORTHERN INVASION. 145 

decide upon and enforce tlie decision, agreeable to 
their resolution of June last.^ The evasion of it, and 
the encouragement afforded to the revolters, has given 
universal disgust to all ranks of people, and in 
confidence I cannot but inform you, that the most 
sensible among us begin to be jealous of a premeditated 
intention to make a sacrifice of this state, to answer 
the political views of others, and of interested 
individuals, and I should not be surprised, tho' I 
may be mistaken, if these jealousies should so far 
prevail, as that at the next meeting of the legislature 
our delegates should be withdrawn, and the resources of 
the state which have hitherto been so lavishly afforded 
to the continent, be withheld for our own defence. 



'Alluding to resolutions of June 2d, declaring the proceedings of 
the Vermont people highly unwarrantable and subversive of the 
public peace and welfare of the United States. The resolutions 
required the inhabitants to abstain from all acts of authority civil or 
military, until a decision should be made concerning their claims to 
separate and independent jurisdiction in matters of state government. 

The jealousy with which these proceedings were regarded may be 
inferred from the following letter from General Schuyler to Governor 
Clinton : 

(Secret.) 

Saratoga, Octr 31, 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

The conduct of some people to the eastward is alarmingly 
mysterious. A flag under pretext of settling a cartel with Vermont, 
has been on the Grants. Allen has disbanded his militia, and the 
enemy in number upwards of 1,600 are rapidly advancing towards 
us. The night before last, they were at Putnam's Point. 

Intreat Gen. Washington for more Continental troops, and let me 
beg of your Excellency to hasten up here. 

I am, dear sir, sincerely yours &c. 

Pn. Schuyler. 

19 



146 NORTHERN INVASION. 

Yourself, Mr. Floyd/ Mr. Scott,^ Mr L'Hommedin,-'' 
and Gen^ McDougall,^ are appointed delegates for the 
ensuing year, and by the next convenient opportunity, 
your commissions will be transmitted. 

I have the honor to be &c. 

Geo: Clinton. 
The Ilon^'® James Duane, Esq. 

P. S. I lodged at Col" Livingston's the night before 
last, and have the pleasure of informing you that Mrs. 
Duane and the family are well.^ 

Since writing the above, I am informed, tho' not 
officially, that a detachment of sixty men, who were 
ordered to march fi'om the garrison of Fort Schuyler, 
to hang on the enemy's flank, on their retreat, 
unfortunately, before they discovered the enemy, fell 
in with their main body, and the whole of them (two 
excepted), made prisoners. I am in great hopes how- 
ever, that this account is not true, as the order given 
to the party, by Maj'' Hughes,'^ was couched in the 



^ William Floyd, then of Suffolk county. 

''General John Morin Scott, of New York city. 

3 Ezra L'IIommedien,of Suffolk county. 

* Alexander McDougall. 

^Mrs. Duane was the eldest daughter of Robert Livingston, pro- 
prietor of Livingston manor. 

^ Major Peter Hughes, a deserving officer who then commanded at 
Fort Schuyler, died at Cayuga, N. Y., in December, 1816, aged sixtj'- 
five years. 



NORTUERN INVASION. 147 

most exact terms. He was to proceed with tlie 
greatest circumspection, and not to hazard any thing 
that might endanger their retreat. 



Letter from Governor Clmton to General Heath. 

POUGHKEEPSIE, Ocf 30*% 1780. 

Dear Sir : 

Your letter of the 17th Inst reached me on my 
pursuit after Sir John Johnson, ab' 14 miles above 
Fort Herkimer. Gansevoort's and "Weissenfel's reg*' 
did not reach Albany, until the enemy were driven 
out of the country and those to the northward had 
recross'd the lake [and] returned as far as the 
neighborhood of Ticonderoga. The Inhabit' on the 
northern frontiers, from the easy access the enemy 
had among them, were greatly distress'd & Col" 
Gansevoort, before my return to Albany from the 
westw** by the advice of Gen. Ten Broeck, marched 
his regiment to cover that part of the country, and 
prevent its being abandoned. 

Weissenfels ^ marched to Schenectady, the levies 



TrecTerick H. Baron de Weissenfels was a native of Prussia, 
settled in Dutchess county a few years before the revoh;tion, and was 
naturalized by an act of the general assembly, December 20, 1763. 
He had formerly held an office in the British service. His acquaint- 



148 NORTHERN INVASION. 

wliose terms expire aL* the middle of Dec', and were 
immediately to mareli to Fort Ilerldmer, to keep open 
the communication with Fort Schuyler. The Reg'' 
itself will remain at Schenectady, until a competent 
supply of Provisions can be procured for the garrison 
at Fort Schuyler during the winter, and to escort it 
up. A very inconsiderable part of the supphes for 
this service is yet provided, and unless particular 



ance with militaiy affairs, and his attachment for the Continental 
cause, led to his early employment in the revolutionary army. He 
was appointed a lieutenant colonel of the 3d New York battalion, 
March 8, 177G, and was subsequently commissioned twice with the 
same rank, in command of regiments of levies raised for the defense 
of the frontiers. He was appointed by the commander in chief, to 
command the 3d New York battalion and fought at White Plains ; 
accompanied the army through New Jersey, and assisted in the 
capture of the Hessians at Trenton. He was present with this 
regiment at the surrender of Burgoyne, and in the battle of 
Monmouth, with fixed bayonets, executed an order greatly to his 
honor, and to the credit of the troops he commanded. He accompa- 
nied tlie expedition of General Sullivan in 1779, and fought gallantly 
in the battle of Newtown. 

Like many other public servants he became impoverished by the 
war, and although he received commutation certificates for five years 
pay, his necessities compelled him to dispose of them for a trifle, and 
in 1787 and 1793, special legislation was granted for his relief The 
treasurer was by this action authorized to liquidate his debt due to 
the state, upon such principles as might appear just, so as to enable 
him to obtain the benefit of an act of insolvency, the state taking its 
chances with his other creditors. 

He became the lessee of a forfeited estate of George Folliott in 
Ameuia, but subsequently removed to New Orleans, was appointed 
to an humble office in the police, and died there in August, 1806, 
aged seventy-eight years. In 1838, his daughter petitioned congress 
for compensation for his services, but without success. In balloting 
for lands in the military tract, Lieut. Col. Weissenfels drew five 
lots, of six hundred acres each; but the patents were issued to 
another party, and he probably derived but little benefit from them. 



NORTIIERX INVASION. 149 

attention is paid to this business, as the season for 
water transportation in the course of a month will 
be over, and it will be impossible to forw'^ it hy 
land, the post must, in the course of the winter, 
be abandoned. The newspaper will give you a 
pretty just account of the progress of the enemy 
on the frontiers, except as to the devastation com- 
mitted by them, which it might not be so prudent to 
publish. They have destroyed at least 200 dwellings, 
and 150,000 bushels of wheat, with a proportion of 
other grain and forage, though by the rapid pursuit 
after them, a considerable tract of country, which 
would share the same fate was saved. I shall be 
happy in rendering you any assistance in my power, 
in the execution of your important command, but 
believe me Sir, the distress of this state is such, 
that unless those who have experienced less of the 
war, make greater exertions than they have lately 
done, there "will be great difficulties in maintaining 
your post. 

I find Weissenfels' Regt exceedingly^ deficient in 
point of clothing, for the climate to which they 
[are] destined. I should have been glad, therefore, 
if some other Reg' better provided could have been 
ordered for that duty, especially as I find from this 
consideration, and because the troops of this state 
conceive it a hardship to be obliged perpetually 
to garrison that post, it is extremely disagreeable 
to them. If the direction of this matter does not 



150 NORTHERN INVASION. 

lie with you, I sliall be obliged by your com- 
municating tliis information to bis Excellency the 
commander in chief. 

I remain with the Greatest Respect &c. 

Geo: Clinton. 
The IIon^'« 1 

Major Gen' Heath. J 



Letter from General Ten Broeck to Governor Clinton. 

Albany, 30''' Ocio., 1780. 
Sir: 

I wrote your Excellency yesterday, since which, I 

have received accounts which seem to contradict those 

of Col. Van Woert sent you. The enemy had not 

landed, but are still near Skeenesborough. Whether 

they will come into the country is uncertain. I have 

countermanded the orders issued in consequence of 

Col. Van Woert's information, and directed the whole 

brigade to be ready to march at the shortest notice. 

I remain your Excellency's 

Most Humble Servt., 

Ab" Ten Broeck. 
His Excellency, George Chnton. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 151 

Letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington. 

POUGHKEEPSIE, Oct^ SO"', 1780. 

Dear Sir : 

My last letter was dated at Albany, and communi- 
cated the disagreeable intelligence of the destruction 
of Schoharie and part of Balls Town, ab' 12 miles IST. E. 
of Schenectady, since which I have not been able to 
write to your Excellency. 

As I then proposed, I immediately left Albany, in 
order to take the necessary measures for checking the 
further incursions of the enemy. 

On my arrival at Schenectady, I was advised that 
different parties of the enemy at Schoharie and Balls 
Town, had left those places, the former moving towards 
the Mohawk river, and the latter shaping their course 
towards Sacondaga. 

Gen^ Yan Rensselaer had arrived at Schenectady 
before me, at the head of about four or five hundred 
militia, with orders to act according to emergencies. 
On receiving this intelligence, I immediately moved 
up the river, in hopes of being able to gain their 
front, but this proved impracticable, as their route 
was much shorter, and their troops were enured 
to marching. They reached the river, at the con- 
fluence of the Schoharie Kill, ab' six miles ahead 
of him, and recommenced their devastations in that 



152 NORTIIEKN INVASION". 

fertile country, by burning tlie bouses, and destroying 
witb marks of tlie greatest barbarity, every tbing in 
their way. 

Under these circumstances, I was exceedingly per- 
plexed. The militia under General Yan Rensselaer, 
were inferior in number to that of the enemy ; the few 
I had with me were too far in the rear to sustain them, 
and not much could be expected from the militia of 
the country through which the enemy passed, their 
whole attention being engaged in the preservation of 
their families, and the levies were necessarily very 
much dispersed at the different posts, to cover the 
frontier settlements against the incursions of small 
parties. Gen' Van Rensselaer, however, continued to 
move on, and being soon after joined by CoP Dubois, 
with between three and four hundred levies, and 60 of 
the Oneida Indians, pursued the enemy with vigor. 
He came up with them, and attacked them at Fox's 
Mills ^ (26 miles from where the enemy first struck the 
river), about sunset. After a considerable resistance 
they gave way and fled, with precipitation leaving 
behind them their baggage, provisions, and a brass 
three pounder, with its ammunition. The niglit came 
on too soon for us to avail ourselves of all the 



' Fox's mills were a grist mill and saw mill, on the east side of 
Garoga creek, near the Palatine church, and twenty or thirty rods 
above the present mills of C. Y. Edwards. They belonged to Philip 
Fox. Some years since in clearing away the rubbish on the site of 
the mills, some cliarred wheat, the result of the fire in 1780, was 
found. — Letter of J. E. Sinnus. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 153 

advantages wMch we liad reason to promise ourselves 
from this action, Tlie enemy took advantage of 
passing the river, at a ford^ a little above, where they 
again collected and renewed their march up the river 
with great celerity, and it became necessary for our 
troops, who had marched upwards of thirty miles 
without halting, to retire from the ground, to refresh 
themselves. 

The pursuit was, however, resumed early in the 
morning after the action, and the enemy so closely 
pushed, as to prevent their doing any further mischief 
The morning after the action, I arrived with the miUtia 
under my immediate command, but they were so beat 
out with fatigue, having marched at least 50 miles in 
less than 24 hours, as to be unable to proceed any 
further. I therefore left them, and put myself at the 
head of the advanced troops, and continued the pursuit 
till within about 15 miles of Oneida, and if we could 
possibly have procured provisions, to have enabled us 
to have pursued one or two days longer, there is little 
doubt but that we might have succeeded, at least so 
far, as to have scattered their main body and made 
many prisoners. But there was no supplies but such 
as I was obliged to take from the inhabitants on our 
route, and these were inadequate, and the collection 
of them attended with delay, nor could the pack 
horses, with the small quantities, procured in this 



'Near the present dam for a canal feeder below St. Joliusvillc. 
20 



154 XOIITIIERN INVASION. 

disagreeable manner, overtake us in so rapid a march 
tliroiigli a perfect wilderness. 

I was therefore obliged, tho' reluctantly to return, 
most of the troops having been near two days utterly 
destitute, and unable to proceed. Sir John, Brandt 
and Butler, immediately after the action at Fox's 
Mills, left their troops, and with a party of Indians, 
on horseback, struck across the country, and went 
towards Oneida, taking their wounded with them. 
We discovered, where they joined their main body 
again, near the waters of the Susquehanna, six miles 
on this side, where we quitted the pursuit. Brandt 
was wounded through the foot. 

The enemys force under Sir John, from the best 
account I have been able to collect, amounted to 750 
picked troops from the 20th and 34th British reg*% 
Hessian Yaugers, Sir John's Corps, Butler's Rangers 
and Brant's Corps of Indians and tories, and the 
party that appeared at Balls Town of ab*^ 200 chiefly 
British and by some accounts it appears they intended 
to form a junction at Johns Town. 

In the different skirmishes, a considerable number 
of the enemy were killed; the exact amount I am not 
able to ascertain. AVe have taken ab' 40 prisoners,^ 
recovered most of those they had taken from us at 



1 On the 30th of October, Governor CHnton forwarded thirty-one 
prisoners under tlie care of Captain Henderson to be secured in tlie 
provost at Fislikill. They were receipted for bj^ Daniel Clapp, 
captain-lieutenant in charge. — Clinton Papers, 3,321, A. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 155 

Scholia rie and other pUxces with the negroes cattle and 
plunder. Our principal loss is Coll Brown of the Bay 
Levies. He by false intelligence, was led into the 
fire of the whole body of the enemy and fell, with 39 
of his and the militia and levies of this state, and two 
made prisoners. 

The account I formerly transmitted your Excellency 
resjDecting the enemy to the northw'^ are as far as I 
have since been able to learn, nearly true. The little 
post and garrison of Fort Ann, appeared to me to 
have been surrendered through treachery or cowardice. 
Cap' Chipman, the commanding officer of Fort 
George, having on the first alarm sent out his whole 
garrison, (supposing the enemy to consist of only 
ab' 30 Indians and tories only), except 14 men 
obtained a very honorable capitulation, before he could 
be induced to surrender. 

The losses we have sustained by these difterent 
incursions of the enemy, will be most severely felt. 
They have destroyed, on a moderate computation, 
200 dwellings, & 150,000 bushels of wheat, with a 
proportion of other grain, and forage. The enemy to 
the northw*^ continue in the neighborhood of Crown 
Point, and the inhabitants, in consequence of their 
apprehensions of danger, are removing from the 
northern parts of the state. Coll. Gansevoort, by the 
advice of Gen^ Ten Broeck, marched to cover that 
part of the country, & Coll" Weissenfels marched to 
Schenectady, where his reg* will continue to escort a 



156 NORTHERN INVASION. 

full supply of provisions to Fort Schuyler, a very 
inconsiderable part of ^vliicli is as yet provided, and 
unless particular attention is paid to this business, (as 
the season for water transportation in the course of a 
month will be over and it wall be impossible to forw*" 
it by land), the post must in the course of the winter 
be abandoned/ The levies, incorporated in this reg't 
whose times expire ab' the middle of December, were 
immediately to march to Fort Herkimer, to keep open 
the communication of Fort Schuyler with the country. 
This regm* with the others of this state, are so exceed- 
ingly destitute in point of clothing, (notwdthstanding 
every attempt of the state to supply them), that I could 
have wished some other reg* l)etter provided ag'' the 
severe climate had been ordered to garrison that post, 
especially as I find from this consideration, and 
because the troops in this state conceive it an hardship 
constantly to garrison it, this duty is become extremely 
disagreeable to them. 

I forgot to mention, that when Ave arrived at Fort 
Herkimer, a letter was dispatched to ISIajor Hughes 
commands at Fort Schuyler, giving him an ace* of the 
force -and route of the enemy, and of the boats lying 
at Onondaga lake ,2 that he might, if he found it 
consistent with the safety of his garrison, send out a 
small party to annoy the enemy on their march. By 



^Fort Schuyler having been injured by fire and flood, was finally 
abandoned in the spring of 1781. 

2 This was doubtless intended for Oneida lake. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 157 

Ms letter to Col" Alalcolm, I find he dispatched a party 
of sixty men for this purpose, with orders to use the 
utmost precaution ag'"' surprise, or any thing that 
might prevent tlieir returning to the fort. Since my 
return from Albany, a report prevails, that this party 
was ambushed by the enemy and defeated ; but from 
Major Hughe's cautious orders, and as I have no 
ofiicial acc'^, I do not credit it. 

I have the honor, &c., G. C. 

P. S. The enemy bro' with them tw^o brass mortars 
for 4f shells, which they concealed in their route from 
Schoharie. From some discoveries, we are in hopes 
of finding them.^ 



Letter from Governor Clinton to General Washington. 

POKIEPSIE, Ocf 31, 1781. 
Sir: 

I have to acknowledge the Rec' of your Excellency's 

circular letter of the 18th Inst, covering a return of 

the troops credited to this state and also your letter 

of the 21st, enclosing Mr. Duer's letter, with the 

Information given respect^ Mr. Smith.^ 



1 We are informed by Mr. Thomas Machin of Albany, that one of 
these was found some ten years afterwards, and made up into spoon 
moulds. 

2 Joshua H. Smith, who had been arrested from supposed com- 
plicity in Arnold's treason. 



158 NOUTIIEKX INVASION. 

The Lcg-ishitiirc previous to its rising, provided for 
completing tlie quota of coiit^ troops of this state 
during tlie war, and charged me witli the execution 
of it whenever it should ascertain the number to be 
raised by this state. 

By the new arrangement of the army, a copy of 
which has been transmitted to me by the Presd', the 
quota assigned this state, is 2 Reg'ts of infantry, and 
one of artillery. From the return transmitted by 
your Excellency, it would appear, that our deficiency 
is 313 : but least I may have misapprehended the 
return, or erred in my calculation, 1 wish to have the 
number ascertained by your Excellency, before I issue 
my orders for raising the men, especially as they are 
to be apportioned to the different counties, and any 
mistake in the aggregate number would be productive 
of embarrassment and delay. 

The moment when I am favored w"" your Excel- 
lency's answer on this subject, the business will be 
commenced, and I have little doubt that it mil be 
effected in due season. I am unhappy to find that 
Congress have left an opening for temporary enlist- 
ments in their new arrangement. Experience has 
taught us, that there are states who will avail 
themselves of it, by which our hopes of a permanent 
army will be defeated. 

I will deliver the information respecting Mr. Smith, 
to the commis""' for detecting conspiracies, who will 
be able to make such inquiries, as to ascertain the 



NORTHERN INVASION. 159 

truth of it. At any rate, it may be proper to direct 

Hs removal from liis present residence. Since writing 

tlie above, I rec*^ the enclosed information from Gen^ 

Ten Broeck. I have in consequence ordered out a 

considerable body of militia to that quarter. Ganse- 

voort is properly situated to aid in opposing the 

enemy. 

I have the honor to be &c. 

G. C. 
His Excellency 

Gen^ 



;elleney "» 

1^ Washino-to^ / 



Letter from General Washington to Governor Clinton} 

Head Quarters, Prackness, Novemh'' [5,] 1780. 
Dear Sir : 

I have received your several favors of the 18th, 30th 
and 31st ult . I congratulate you upon your safe 
return from your late expedition, and upon the success 
which attended General Rensselaer's attack upon the 
enemy in their retreat. 

It is to be regretted that your Excellency was not 
near enough with the reinforcement to take advantage 



1 A letter of the same date, from General Waslnngton to Governor 
Clinton, is printed in Sparlcs's Life and Wiitmr/s of WasMngion, vii, 
281, but considerably abridged from the one here given. 



IGO NORTHERN INVASION. 

of their situation. The damage which has been done, 
will, I fear, be severely felt by the public, as well as 
by individuals. "We had the most pleasing prospects 
of forming considerable magazines of bread from the 
country which has been laid waste, and which, from 
your Excellency's letter, is so extensive, that I am 
apprehensive we shall be obliged to bring flour from 
the southward, to support the troops at and near West 
Point. You -wall be pleased to give your opinion upon 
the quantity of flour that may yet, with probability, 
be procured above, in the course of the winter, that I 
may form some calculation of the quantity which it 
will be necessary to draw from Jersey, Pennsylvania 
and Maryland. 

I am sorry that tlie troops from your state should 
look upon it as a hardship to do the garrison duty of 
Fort Schuyler. I had always allotted it to them, as 
thinking it Avould be agreeable to both oflacers and 
men, to guard their own frontier, especially when they 
were not conthiued an unreasonable time upon the 
tour. The frontier posts of Pennsylvania and Vir- 
ginia, have been constantly garrisoned by their own 
regiments, which have not been reheved these two 
years. The troops of the line, in general, are in point 
of clothing, upon a footing with the rest of the army, 
which is very bare, and which has a poor prospect of 
being well supphed. But as Col Weissenfeld's Regi- 
ment is going to a distance and where he will not have 
an opportunity of dramng those temporary supplies 



NORTIIEEN INVASION. 1()1 

wliicli the troops witli tlic main army sometimes do, I 
have given orders to have it as well furnished as our 
magazines will admit. 

I have appointed Brigadier General Clinton to take 
the command in the northern department/ and have 
, ordered him to repair to Albany for that purpose. I 
am convinced he will second every measure which 
may be thought expedient, for the security of the 
frontier. 

I am much obliged to your Excellency for the 
attention which you promise to pay to the provisioning 
Fort Schuyler. I daily expect four or five hundred 
barrels of salt beef from Connecticut. As soon as 
they arrive upon the jSTorth River, part of them shall 
be sent up to Albany for the garrison of Fort Schuyler. 
I desired Grovernor Trumbull to hurry them on, that 
they might be up in this month. 

I am very happy to find that the Legislature vested 
your Excellency with the power of complying [with] 
the requisitions of congress for completing the new 
army. I find that the Resolve of the 3'^ of Ocf had 
only reached you, and that your calculation of the 
deficiency of 313 men had been founded upon that. 
Congress, by a subsequent act of the 2l8t have made 
some very material and salutary amendments, the 
principal of which are — gi^dng half-pay for life to the 
officers, confining the term of service expressly to the 



' Sixn'Jcs's Life and Writings of WdsMnrjfon^ vii, 279. 

21 



1G2 n()rtiii<:rn invasion. 

war, and angmenting tlie number of men in each 
Reg*^ to 612 rank and file. I tlierefore state your exact 
deficiency at 449 men, upon tlie following principles. 

2 Regiments of Infantry, Rank and file - 1,224 
1 Reg' of Artillery non Com'^ & Privates 650 

1,874 
Rank and file for the war, by Return 

transmitted - - - - - 1,121 

Already in Lamb's Reg' which is the one 

which will be apportioned to the state 



304 



1,425 



Deficiency, - - 449. 



This, your Excellency will be pleased to observe, is 
the deficiency in figures — but when we come to take 
into the computation the casualties which will happen 
between this time and the junction of the recruits, — 
the number of men sick in hospitals, and upon extra 
service, many of the first, incurables, and of the last 
so detached that we shall never find them. The 
deficiency which there will be in the number of 
recruits voted, and other unforeseen deductions, it will 
appear plainly, that if the assessment is laid at 449 
only, the regiments will want very considerably of that 
strength, which is absolutely necessary to make our 
continental force any ways adequate for the probable 
services of the next cam})aign. I would therefore beg 
leave to recommend to your Excellency, to lay your 



NORTHERN INVASION. 1G3 

assessment at 100 men more than the apparent 
deficiency. I am convinced it will be fonnd cheaper, 
and in every respect more eligible to compleat the 
matter at one stroke, than to have a second tax to lay. 
Our affairs to the southward put on a more pleasing 
aspect since the defeat of Col. Ferguson. Lord Corn- 
wallis was retreating precipitately from Charlotte, and 
giving up a fine district of country which he had in 
possession. But the diversion which General Leslie 
will occasion by taking post in Virginia, will, I fear, 
operate against the formation of the Southern army, 
and will ' embarrass us on the score of supplies. 
Another embarcation is preparing at 'New York, 
which, I have no doubt, is also intended for the south- 
ward, as, without considerable reinforcements, they 
must abandon their late conquests in that quarter. 
I have the honor to be 

With the greatest esteem. 
Your Excellency's 

Most obed' humble serv' 

G. "Washington. 
His Excelly Gov"^ Clinton. 



104 NOKTliKKN JNV^\S10N. 



Proccaluxjs of <i Court of Inijiurii upon the Conduct (f 
General Robert Van llcnssclacr. 

At a Court of Enquiry lield at tlio city of All)aiiy, 
on the 12tli day of March, 1781. To enquire into 
the conduct of Brigadier General Robert Van 
Rensselaer, on tlic Incursions of tlie enemy into 
Tryon County, in October last, pursuant to general 
orders of his Excellency Governor Clinton : 

Present, 

Brig'" General Swartwout.^ President. 

i Tbomas,- ) 

Colonels -) rmt^m^^crs. 

( Cantine,'^ 5 

Tbe court met, and adjourned till tomorrow after- 
noon at 5 o'clock, 

Tuesday Marcb 13''' 1781. 

Tbe court met pursuant to adjournment. 



' Jacobus Swiirtwout, of Fislikill, Dutchess county. His riink as 
brigadier general dated from March 3, 1780. General S. was in the 
assembly six years, and in the state senate from 1789 to 1795. 

2 Colonel Thomas Thomas, of Harrison, Westchester county, 
appointed colonel, May 28, 1778. He represented his county iu 
assembly thirteen years, and in the senate four years. 

3 Colonel John Cantine, of Ulster county, who succeeded Levi 
Paulding as colonel, February 21, 1778, upon the appointment of the 
latter as judge. Colonel Cantine was eight years in assembly and 
seven in the senate. He was elected to the 8th congress, but resigned 
before its close. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 165 

Colo : Joliii Harper/ then appeared before tliem and 
oflered in eyidence against General Rensselaer, a copy 
of a letter written hy John Lansing Jun""^ Esq. by 
order of the General, to Col" Lewis Dubois,^ in these 
words, viz*. 

Yan Eps,* Caghnawago, 19''' Ocfo. 1780. 

Sir: We are here, with a force sufficient to cope 

with the enemy, but if you can possibly cooperate 

with us, it will in all probability tend to insure us 

success. General Rensselaer who commands here. 



^•Jolui Harper was appointed colonel of a regiment of Tryon 
county militia, March 2, 1780, and on the 11th of May following, 
lieutenant colonel commandant of a regiment of levies for the defense 
of the frontiers. He died in Harpersfield, Delav/are county, N. Y., 
November 20, 1811. 

^'John Lansing, Jr., at an early period of the war was military 
secretary to General Schuyler. He was afterwards member of the 
legislature seven years, mayor of Albany four years, delegate in the 
old congress, and in 1778 member of the convention for adopting the 
Federal constitution. In 1790, he was appointed one of the com- 
missioners for settling the Vermont controversy, and on the 28th of 
September of that year, became one of the justices of the supreme 
court. On the l^tli of February, 1798, he became chief justice, and 
on the 21st of October, 1801, chancellor. In 1804, his political friends 
offered him their support for governor, but he declined. He was 
succeeded by Kent as chancellor, in 1814. In 1817, he was chosen 
a regent, and in 1829 a presidential elector. He disappeared at New 
York in December, 1829, and is supposed to have been robbed and 
murdered. 

3 Colonel Dubois was appointed July 1, 1780, as colonel of a 
regiment of levies to reinforce the army of the United States. He 
had been previously lieutenant colonel commandant of the 5th 
Continental battalion, but resigned December 22, 1779, and was 
succeeded in that office bj' Marinus Willet. 

* In the present village of Fultonville, in the town of Glen. 



1()() NOirniEKN INVASION. 

therefore advises you to iiiareli down along the south 

side of the river, with all the men you have, with as 

much expedition as possible. lie intends to attack 

the enemy as soon as the day appears. It depends 

on your exertions to favor this enterprize. 

I am Sir, yours, 

By order of Gen^ Rensselaer, 

J. Lansing, Juu"". 
Col" Dubois. 

Colo. John Harper being then sworn, says, That 
on the 19th of October, he was nnder the command 
of General Rensselaer on the Mohawk river : That 
he commanded a party of Indians on the south side 
of the Mohawk River, east of Fort Plane,^ or 
Rensselaer: That he was nnder the immediate com- 
mand of Colo Dubois : That in the morning of the 
19th Octob'' they proceeded down the river until they 
heard an engagement which happened on the north 
side of the river, between a detachment of troops 
under the command of Colo John Brown, and the 
enemy nnder Sir John Johnson : That upon hearing 
the firing, Colo Dubois ordered the greater part of the 
Kew York levies, under his immediate command, and 
the Indians commanded by the witness, to cross to the 
north side of the river to support Colo Brown's 
detachment, wdien some men of that detachment, 

^ Fort Plain stood on the hill uext west of that on which the 
Female Seminary stands, about half a mile west of the present village 
of Fort Plain, and on the south side of the Mohawk river. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 1G7 

which had been defeated and dispersed, came to the 
river and crossed it, and gave the depon.ent informa- 
tion of the state of Colo. Brown's party. 

That upon hearing that Colo. Brown was defeated, 
the deponent informed Colo. Dubois of the disaster, 
and that the whole of the detachm' of levies and 
Indians or part of them, who had crossed to support 
Colo. Brown, recrossed to the south side. 

That Colo. Dubois then informed the deponent 
that General Rensselaer was below, and requested 
him to ride down to the Gen^ and advise him of the 
fate of Browm's detachment, which he accordingly did. 

That he found General Rensselaer halted about a 
mile below Fort Rensselaer. 

That he entreated the general to march on : That 
he informed him there was a ford near at hand, about 
knee deep, where the troops might cross : That he 
urged the general to attack the enemy at all events : 
That the general informed him he did not know the 
enemy's numbers, nor the route they intended to 
take : That he told the general that if the enemy took 
the same route which they did when they came, they 
could do us no more injury than they had already 
done, or if he should go thro' Johnstown, they would 
hurt their friends and not ours. 

That the general then told him, that he would go 
to Colo. Dubois and advise with him, and that he 
attended the general there : That he is ignorant of 
what passed between Colo. Dubois and the general, 



108 NORTHERN INVASION. 

but tliat the levies and Indians with some of the Tryon 
county militia, rccrossed to the north side of the river, 
either by the generals', or Colo Dubois' orders: — the 
deponent supposed it to have been by the Gen^' order. 

That while the detachment under Col. Dubois, and 
the Indians & militia were crossing, the Gen' and Colo 
Dubois went to Fort Eensselaer and there dined. 
That they returned to the bank of the river, and there 
stood at the ferry ^ for a considerable time after the 
levies and Indians had crossed: That the deponent 
came to the north bank of the river and hailed the 
Gen', intreating him for God's sake to cross, but he 
rec'' no reply. 

That the deponent believes the levies and Indians 
had all crossed about 1 o'clock, and that he believes 
it was near three hours thereafter, before the imme- 
diate command of Genl. Rensselaer, (who had crossed 
about a mile below), came up to the ferry, where the 
levies and Indians remained paraded. 

That when the militia came up, the whole of the 
troops were divided into three columns, and marched 
to attack the enemy. Colo Dubois with the levies 
on the right the Albany militia on the left and that 
he does not know who commanded the central column, 
composed of whites and Indians. That the deponent 
commanded the Indians, in advance of the centre 
column. 



' John Walrod's ferry, opposite Fort Plain. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 169 

That after advancing some distance, he was met by 
an Indian who informed him that tlie enemy were 
near at hand, and that the enemj^'s force was abont 
four hundred white men, and but few Indians; which 
the deponent in person immediately communicated to 
Gen^ Rensselaer, then at the head of the centre column, 
and then returned to his command, without receiving 
any further orders from the general. That after 
advancing about half a mile, his party fell in with, 
and began to skirmish with the enemy's rear guard, 
who were then retreating up the river. That part of 
the centre column also fell in with that part of the 
enemy. That the enemy then changed their front, 
came down the river and engaged our left, and com- 
menced a regular and heavy platoon firing on them : 
But that our left, not being pressed, fired irregularly, 
and were beat back, but advanced again and con- 
tinued firing irregularly. That at this juncture, the 
enemy attempted to gain and secure the ford. That 
thereupon part of the centre column, filed ofi" to the 
right and joined Colo. Dubois' detachmSvho attempted 
to gain the enemy's left fiank, and the remainder con- 
tinued, with five of the Indians, advancing in the 
centre. That soon after a heavy fire commenced, and 
was continued on the right, which the deponent has 
since been informed, happened between Colo Whiting* 
and the enemy. That when the firing on the right 



^William W. Wliiting, commissioned colonel June 16, 1778. 

22 



170 NORTHERN INVASION. 

commenced, it was quite dusk, and tlie detachment 
under Colo Dubois had gained the enemy's left, and 
they were fording the river. 

That he was then informed by Colo Dubois, that 
the general had ordered a retreat, and was requested by 
the Colonel to communicate it to Major Benschoten.^ 
That he did not receive orders to retire, till the enemy 
had crossed to the south side of the river. That when 
he went in search of Major Benschoten, he found 
some of the troops composed of Tryon militia and 
levies, plundering. That he forbid it, and ordered the 
Indians to remain in close quarters, least some accident 
might happen to them. 

Questmi hy the Gen\ How was you informed that 
the enemy had crossed ? 

Answer. When I was in quest of Major Benscho- 
ten, I was informed by many people, who were on the 
ground, that the enemy had crossed. 

Quest. Did you see me after that ? 

Ans"^. N^o, sir. 

Quest. Did you send me any information that the 
enemy had crossed the river ? 

Ans''. I did not. 

Quest. Did our troops engage the enemy as they 
were first formed and advanced ? 

Alls', '^o. 



' Elias Van Bnntscliotcn was appointed major in Colonel Dubois's 
regiment raised for the defence of tlie frontiers, July 1, 1780. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 171 

Quest. Do you not recollect that you came to me 
before the skirmishing began, and requested that the 
Indians might go in the rear of the centre column ? 

Ans'^. I do not. 

Quest. Did you observe the militia on the left to be 
in great confusion, when the firing commenced ? 

Aih'f. I did. 

Mr. Wm Harper,' being sworn, says, That he was 
at Schenectady on the evening of the IT''' October, 
when Gen' Rensselaer arrived there with the militia, 
and they discovered the lights of fires at the lower end 
of Schoharie, where they had received information 
that the enemy were burning. That he was informed 
the militia under the general were to march the next 
morning. That the militia remained in Schenectady 
till it was late in the morning. That the deponent 
being impatient, went on to the Williger, about four- 
teen miles above Schenectady, where he received 
information that the enemy were burning at the 
Cadorotty^ about a mile above Fort Hunter. That 
the express who came from Fort Hunter, to Gen' 



' " William Harper was au active member of the provincial con- 
gress, and after the war, was six years a member of the state legisla- 
ture. When Otsego county was formed, he was appointed one of the 
assistant judges. He lived to a great age, and died a few years since 
at Milford, in Otsego county, retaining to the last that strong desire 
for information which had characterized his public life." — Annals of 
Tryon County, ed. of 1831, p. 155. 

^A mile or two up Schoharie creek on the east side. Sometimes 
spelled Cada ugh rita. 



172 NOliTIIEKN INVASION. 

Rensselaer was I'or warded hy the Dep', that tlie (Jen' 
and troops soon came on. That it was near sunset 
Avhen they rec*^ information of tlie enemy's bcini>' at 
AVarrensbusli.^ That the troops were ordered to halt 
at Elliott's at the Old Farms. 

That the Gen' applied to the deponent, to procure 
a recouuoitering party to discover the number, situ- 
ation and movements of the enemy. That he procured 
them and waited on the Gen'. That the Gen' told 
him he would consult with his field officers, and that 
thereupon he sent a Sergeant, "Wm "Wood, with seven 
or eight men to reconnoitre the enemy. That the 
depon* accompanied the party to Fort Hunter, and 
from thence, he with one man went to Anthony's IS'ose, 
where the enemy had their camp. That they returned 
with all possible dispatch to the General, whom they 
found advanced with the troops as far as Gardinier's 
Flatts,^ about four and a half miles above Fort Hunter, 
and twenty-six above Schenectady, about twelve 
o'clock at night or after. 

That he informed the general of the enemy's 
situation, and that the Gen' continued advancing with 
the troops to Van Eps, about half or three fourths of a 
mile. 



1 Warrensbush was the uamc applied to a tract of some fifteen 
tliousaud acres of land mostly in the present town of Florida, Mont- 
gomery county, owned by Sir Peter Warren, an uncle of Sir William 
Johnson. 

2 A short distance below Fultonville. 



NORTPIERN INYASI(3N. 173 

That tlie Gcii' tlien ordered letters to be written 
to the officers commanding at Fort I*Ianc or Rens- 
selaer, and Stone Arabia and they were given in 
charge to Lt Wm "Wallace. That the Gen' and troops 
remained at Van Ep's between two and three hours, 
and that soon after the march the day broke. That 
the troops marched about four miles, to Peter Lewis'^ 
where the whole halted about ten or twelve minutes 
for the purpose of examining a prisoner taken by our 
advance party. That the troops were marched two or 
three miles to' Putnam's Lands, where the whole body 
halted a considerable time, and the advance party 
were on or near the ground where the enemy had 
halted that night. That the deponent went to the 
Gen' and urged to him that the troops might be 
ordered to march, but the Gen' answered that he must 
first furnish the troops with cartridges. That soon 
after leave was obtained for Major McKinster with the 
advance party to march. 

That while the troops were halted there. Col. Louis ^ 
had been sent out to reconnoitre whether the enemy 
did not remain at the Kose, to ambuscade Gen' Rens- 
selaer's troops. 



' At Stone Ridge, near the west line of the town of Glen. 

2 Col. Louis Cook, an Indian from Caughnawaga village, near 
Montreal, who had joined the American army, and had received a 
commission as lieutenant colonel. His Indian name was Atiatonha- 
ronkwen. He afterwards lived at St. Regis. He died near Buffalo, 
towards the close of the war of 1812-15. — Hough's History of St. 
Lawrence and Franklin Counties, p. 183. 



174 NOKTTTERN INVASION. 

That the advance i»ai'ty nndei' Major McKinster,^ 
marched on to hime Corn' Van Alstyne's, and that lie 
and the major discovered the enemy drawn npon the 
opposite side of the river at John Saxc's house. That 
the road at the K"ose was very bad, so as to render it 
ditHcult to come up witli artillery. That Major Mc- 
Kinster's party halted al)ont an hour at Van Alstyne's 
Ix'tbre the main body came up. That as soon as the 
main body arrived, the whole marched about a mile, 
to another Corn' Van Alstyne's ; and on their arrival 
there they heard a tiring between Col" Browns detach- 
ment and the enemy. 

That the Gen' enquired from the deponent the best 
place to ford the river. That upon trial at Major 
Yale's it was found impracticable. That they then 
marched on to Adam Countryman's ab' one and a 



* Col. John Mc Kinstry served with reputation through the war, 
in which lie was repeatedly and severely wounded, and some of the 
enemy's balls he carried with him to the grave. He was appointed 
a major in Col. Van Ess's regiment on the 28th of May, 1778, and 
served in this capacity in the Mohawk campaign of 1780. At 
the battle of the Cedars, on the St. Lawrence, while serving as 
captain in Col. Patterson's regiment, he was twice wounded and 
taken prisoner by the Indians. Being selected for torture, he was 
bound to a tree and surrounded by faggots, but as the torch was 
about to be applied, he was ransomed and rescued by Brant, who 
recognized a masonic sign given by the prisoner. A warm friend- 
ship sprung up from this incident, and Brant repeatedly visited his 
protege after the war. 

Colonel Mc Kinstry retired to his farm in Livingston, Columbia 
county, after the war, represented his county two years in assembly, 
and died on the 9th of June, 1823, aged 77 years. — Albany Gazette, 
June 18, 1822; Stone's Life of Brant, i, 155, ii, 490. 



NOETHERN INVASION. 175 

half miles, where the whole of the troops halted and 
another party was ordered to advance. 

That the troops had heen there about half an hour 
when Col" Harper ^ came to the Gen' and gave him an 
acco' of Colo Brown's disaster. 

That it was full three hours from that time, before 
the troops under Gen' Rensselaer crossed and came 
np to Walrod's Ferry. That Gen' Eensselaer went 
np to Walrod's Ferry on the south side of the river, 
but when the deponent knows not. 

That the General stood at the ferry, and was pressed 
and intreated by him, Colo Harper and others to cross 
the river, and attack the enemy, but that he gave no 
answer, nor came over, till his militia had joined Colo. 
Dubois' command. 

That after the troops had joined, they were divided 
into three columns, the right commanded by Colo 
Dubois. That about sunset or after, the enemy came 
down out of the woods to Philan's orchard, when a 
skirmishing began between our left and the enemy in 
the lowlands. That our left was much disordered, 
and fired very irregularly and never were in order 
after the firing commenced. 

That the rear of our left was about five hundred 
yards from the enemy when the front began their 
firing at about two hundred and fifty and the whole 
kept up a brisk fire towards the enemy. That he saw 



1 Colonel John Harper. 



170 NORTHERN INVASION. 

several- officers (and particularly Adj' Yan Vegliten * 
of Colo Cuylers reg't), exert themselves to bring ou 
the troops, and to prevent tlieir running away, but 
that they were not able to bring up the men so close 
to action as to annoy the enemy. 

That the confusion took place as soon as the firing 
commenced, and that it was pretty dark before it 
ceased. That about the time when the firing on our 
part ceased, the Dep* saw the Gen' ^dtli the left 
column. That the Gen' informed him, that as it was 
dark, and dangerous to let the firing continue, least 
our troops should kill each other, he had ordered, or 
would order the troops out of action. That he pressed 
the Gen' to push the enemy while they were crossing 
the river, but the Gen' declined it. That it was then 
dark. 

That the General observed to the Deponent, that he 
was apprehensive that the enemy would surround our 
troops, and desired the deponent to ride down to the 
river and inform himself whether the enemy were not 
attempting it. That he replied to the Gen', they were 
crossing the river, but in compliance with the General's 
request he rode down. 

That the place where the enemy crossed the river 
is a common ford and generally made use of. That 
when the Gen' told him, he was resolved to call the 



' Hendrick Van Veghten was appointed adjutant in Colonel 
Abraham Cuyler's regiment, April 4, 1778. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 177 

men off, lie requested tlae Gen^ to encamp there on the 
low ground, the field of action. But that the General 
replied he would go to the hills, and he with the 
troops retired to a hill about a mile from the field of 
action. 

Henry Glen Esq'' being sworn, says : That on the 
17th Ocf" about 5 o'clock p. m. General Eensselaer 
arrived at Schenectady at the deponent's house, and 
informed him that a number of troops were on their 
march from Albany. That the Gen' appeared solicitous 
to procure horses to mount his troops on, and expedite 
their march to Fort Hunter, to waylay the enemy who 
were on their way from Schoharie to the Mohawk river. 

That the Deponent as acting quartermaster of the 
Department advised the Gen' that the most eligible 
mode of procuring horses would be by having the 
inhabitants of Schenectady convened, which was 
accordingly done in the evening. That the Gen' then 
represented to the inhabitants that he wanted four or 
five hundred horses to mount his men on, to go to 
Fort Hunter, for the pui-pose above mentioned. 

That the Gen^ informed the inhabitants, that the 
deponent had received an express from Col" Yeeder 
commanding the lower fort at Schoharie, informing 
him that the enemy had burnt and destroyed the 
settlements at Schoharie, on that day, and were halted 
that night at one Sidney's,^ about fourteen or sixteen 



' In the present town of Esperance. 

23 



178 NORTHERN INVASION. 

miles from Fort Ilnnter. That the distance from 
Schenectady to Fort Hunter is twenty miles. That 
the few inhabitants who were collected, promised the 
general their horses, and that they should be sent to 
the deponent's house by break of day, next morning. 
That it was also proposed by Gen> Rensselaer, that in 
case a sufficiency of horses could not be procured, 
he would take waggons to carry the greater number 
of the men on. 

Quest, hy Gen} Bensselaer. Were the horses or 
waggons ready as I had required ? 

Alls. They were not. 

Quest. Do you recollect, that as soon as I arrived 
at Schenectady, I went to the commissary, and desired 
him to procure, or get in readiness that evening, pro- 
visions for the troops who were coming on ? 

Ans. I do. But the commissary had no provisions. 
He sent out and procured two beeves, which were 
killed the next morning, but it was late before the 
troops were served. The last drew their rations about 
eight o'clock. 

Quest. Do you recollect my sending that night to 
Col" Van Alstyne^ who was at i^estigona^ to ex^^edite 



1 Abraham Van Alstyne was appointed colonel, April 2, 1773. 

■■^Nestigione is the name of a land patent, in Saratoga county, 
granted to John liosie and others, April 22, 1708. It lay in the rear 
of a row of farms fronting the river, and was a mile iu depth, in the 
present county of Saratoga. The name is sometimes found written 
Connestigone, or Mskayunn ; the latter now limited to a township 
south of the Mohawk in Schenectady county. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 179 

liis march so as to be in town by daylight next 
morning ? 

Ans. I do. 

Quest. After the troops were served with provisions, 
did I, to your knowledge, make any unnecessary 
delay in marching thus? 

A71S. You did not. 

Quest. "What distance is it, between N"estigiona and 
Sir "William Johnson's old place ? 

Ans. The distance between its nearest settlement 
called Eosendal and Sir W™'^ old place is about nine- 
teen miles. 

Quest. Had the troops any time to cook their 
provisions, from the time they drew it till their march ? 

Ans. They had not. 

Court : Quest. Had you any intelligence from Gen. 
Rensselaer on the day of his march, after he left 
Schenectady. 

Ans. Yes. The same evening an express came 
from the Gen' with a letter to the governor dated at 
Chucktinunda,^ six miles east of Fort Hunter informing 
the Gov' that he had halted to refresh his men, till 
moon rise, when he intended to march. Afterwards 
an express from the officer commanding at Fort 



1 The Chuctanunda creek unites with tlie Mohawk opposite the 
present village of Amsterdam. The road south of the river, in 
former times, instead of following the bend of the river, here passed 
up over the hill, and thence in a direct line to Fort Hunter. This 
road was about five miles long, and passed nearly two miles from 
the river. 



180 NOKTIIEliN INVASION". 

Hnuter came to ine, Avitli an acco* that Sir John 
Jolmson had that afternoon passed Fort Hunter and 
had destroyed Cadorothy on his route. 

Qiiest. Are you acquainted with the roads and 
passes of Checktinunda Hill ? 

Ans. I am. The road is bad, and up a long clay 
hill with a pretty close wood on hoth sides. 

Colo. Lewis Dubois, being duly sworn, says, that on 
the 19"" October last, at about two o'clock p. m., he 
met General Rensselaer about three-fourths of a mile 
below Fort Rensselaer, and informed him that Colo. 
Brown was defeated, and that the enemy were 
advancing up the river. That the general then 
advised with him where would be the most convenient 
spot to meet them : that he told the general there was 
a fording place just by the ground where the troops 
then were, and that in case they crossed there, it 
would expedite the pursuit after the enemy more than 
if they crossed in the two small boats above, which 
would delay them a long time. 

That the general then gave orders to Lt. Driskill to 
send the artillery to Fort Rensselaer, and that the 
troox3S should cross immediately. That the deponent 
then asked the general whether he had dined. The 
general replied that he had not. That as soon as the 
general had put the troops in motion, he rode to the 
deponent's quarters in Fort Rensselaer to take dinner, 
after leaving orders with the otlicers to cross the river 
with all possil)le dispatch. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 181 

That Lt. Driskill was tlien ordered to leave his men 
in Fort Rensselaer, to work the artillery in case the 
enemy should attack it, and some of the militia who 
were in the fort, were ordered to cross the river, and 
Mr. Lansing was sent down by the general to expedite 
the crossing of the militia. 

That the Gen' and the deponent then went down to 
Wolrod's ferry, and found that the militia had not yet 
come up. That he sent several expresses to hurry 
them on. That upon their coming to the ferry, they 
found several of the militia who had not yet crossed, 
hut immediately passed the ferry, and then the Gen' 
and the deponent crossed as quick as possible. That 
about the time of their crossing, they discovered from 
the firing, that the enemy were coming down out of 
the woods towards the river, at or near Fox's Mills. 
That shortly thereafter Gen' Rensselaer's militia joined, 
and the general advised with him on the most eligible 
mode of attacking the enemy. That the plan of 
attack was directed to be in three columns. The 
right composed of levies commanded by the deponent, 
to be on the high ground ; the left composed of militia, 
and commanded by Col" Cuyler, to be on the low 
ground, and the centre to be commanded by Colo. 
Whiting. 

That it was found inconvenient to march in columns 
and they were ordered to subdivide into sections and 
so marched on till they came in sight of the enemy. 
That the deponent rode down to the Gen^ (then in the 



182 NORTHERN INVASION. 

centre column) and informed him that the enemy 
were formed as follows : That their rangers were on 
their right, on the bank of the river, the regular troops 
in the centre on the flatts in column, and the Indians 
and riflemen on the left, about 150 yards advanced of 
the other troops, in an orchard near Klock's house. 

That upon reconnoitering the ground, it was found 
impracticable to form the centre and left columns as 
was first intended. That they were therefore sub- 
divided into smaller detachments. That thereupon 
a skirmishing commenced between some scattering 
Indians and white men, advanced of the right of the 
centre column of the enemy. That the deponent then 
retired to his command. That Major McKinstry in 
pursuance of the General's orders, filed off" to the right 
from the centre and marched very near the right 
column. 

That the remainder of the centre column under 
the command of Colo "Whiting, advanced to the 
orchard at Klock's house and engaged them. That 
the firing on the part of the enemy was so warm, as 
to prevent troops under Colo Wliiting from advancing. 
That thereupon the deponent ordered two companies 
of his column to raise the summit of the hill and fire 
on the enemy in flank, which broke them and they 
ran ofi". That the deponent then marched on till he 
gained the flank of the enemy's main body, pursuant 
to the General's order. That it began to grow dusk 
and he discovered that his front had got into the 



NORTHERN INVASION. 183 

enemy's rear. That thereupon, he faced his men 
ahoiit, and marched in a hne down to the enemy 
undiscovered : That he gave orders for firing platoons 
from right to left, when the enemy broke and ran : 
That he advanced and continued firing upon the enemy 
till he discovered a firing on the rear of his left. 
That finding it came from some part of our own 
militia, he halted his men and rode up to the militia, and 
met with General Kensselaer on the left of the centre 
column, where he found the militia had given way. 

That it was so dark that he could not discover Gen^ 
Rensselaer at the distance of five paces, nor know him 
but from his voice, and that when he came up to the 
Gen^ he found his efibrts in vain. That he informed 
the Gen' that the right of the centre line were firing 
on the levies, who were advanced against the enemy. 
That it was then proposed by either the Gen' or the 
deponent, that the firing should be ordered to cease, 
least our men should kill each other. 

That the Gen' requested him to ride to the rear of 
the troops and stop their retreating, and inform them 
that the enemy had retired over the river. That he 
went some distance, and on his return informed the 
Gen' that he could not overtake the fronts. That the 
Gen' inquired from him, whether he knew of a good 
piece of ground to encamp on that night. That he 
thereupon recommended a hill near Klock's house, 
and an order was sent to Major Benschoten of the 
levies to return to the ground near Klock's house. 



184 NORTHERN INVASION. 

That on riding with the Gen' he mentioned his 
apprehensions, that his men would want provisions for 
the march the next day. That the deponent then 
recommended to the Gen' a spot of ground near Fox's 
where the troops would be secure from surprise and 
provisions might be brought to them from the 
baggage waggons which were at Fort Rensselaer. 
That part of the levies were left at Klock's house, to 
take charge of the wounded, and of the stores taken 
from the enemy, and the remainder of the troops 
retired to Fox's. 

That the Gen' immediately ordered parties to Fort 
Rensselaer for provisions for the militia, and ordered 
the deponent to hold himself and the levies in 
readiness to march before daylight the next morning 
in pursuit of the enemy. That in consequence thereof, 
he marched with the troops about 3 o'clock in the 
morning. 

Question hji the court. Did the Gen', in your opinion, 
do every thing in his power, to annoy and repel the 
enemy, and save the country from desolation ? 
' Ans'^. Yes sir, while I was with him, I saw nothing 
wanting in him. 

Quest, hy court. Did the Gen' at an^^ time discover 
the least want of personal bravery and firmness in the 
course of the action, and transactions of the 19tli 
October last? 

Ans'^. He did not, but the contrary. 

Quest, hy court. Did you know that the place where 



NORTHERN INVASION. 185 

the enemy crossed the river was a common fording 
place ? 

Ajis"". I did not, nor was it. The bank at the 
place where they crossed was breast high from the 
water, and the water was deep. 

Quest. Was it very dark on the evening of the 
action ? 

Ajis"". I do not think it was fifteen minutes after 
the firing commenced, before it was so dark as to 
render it impossible to distinguish one person from 
another at a distance of ten paces. 

The court adjourned till to-morrow at 7 o'clock. 

The court met pursuant to adjournment. Mr. 
Sampson Dyckman being sworn, says. That he 
joined General Rensselaer about five miles above 
Schenectady, at three or four o'clock on the afternoon 
of the day the Gen' marched from Schenectady. 
That when he came up with the Gen' the troops were 
marching "with expedition, and continued so till 
evening, being then about fourteen or sixteen miles 
from Schenectady, where they halted till moon rise. 

That just as the moon rose, the Gen' came to the 
encampment and ordered the troops to prepare and 
march immediately, and that in five minutes they 
moved. That the Gen' informed him the enemy were 
some distance ahead and that he expected his troops 
would soon fall in with them. That the road over 
Chucktinunda Hill was very bad, miry and deep, which 

impeded the march. That they arrived at Fort Hunter 
24 



186 NORTHERN INVASION. 

at about 12 o'clock and crossed instantly in a scow, on 
waggons and on horseback, and proceeded in their 
march without delay. That when the roads were 
good, the troops marched very fast, but where the 
roads were bad, they were delayed by the artillery and 
waggons. 

Question by General Rensselaer. Did not you come 
to me with a request that the troops might not bo 
ordered to march so fast ? 

Ans'^. I did wait on you, at the instance of Major 
Schuyler and others, who said the men would not be 
fit for action, in case they were marched so fast. You 
then told me, that the enemy were ahead destroying 
the country, and the men must be marched fast at all 
events, to come up with them. Many of the men 
Avere much fatigued by ten o'clock next morning so 
as to render it necessary for them to go on horseback 
and in the waggons. 

The court adjourned till 5 o'clock p. m. 

The court met pursuant to adjournment. 

Major Lewis R. Morris, being sworn, says. That 
he overtook Gen' Rensselaer at Mr H. Glen's at 
Schenectady, on the 18th October last, at about 12 
o'clock and joined him as a volunteer aid-de-camp. 
That he was there ordered by the Gen' to assist Mr 
Le Roy, his Major of Brigade in getting the troops 
out of town. 

That the troops marched out of town about one and 
a half miles on the low lands where they were formed 



NORTHERN INVASION. 187 

and ordered to march into sectious to the Woestyne 
at Mr Van Eps, about nme miles from Schenectady, 
where they halted to refresh themselves for a very 
short time, and then marched to Sir WiUiams old 
place.^ That it was then dark, and the troops halted 
till moon-rise about ten or eleven o'clock. The 
deponent was then informed that the Gen' and 
field officers on consultation, tho't it imprudent and 
dangerous to march over the Chicktinunda Hill in the 
night till moon rise, and the troops were accordingly 
halted on the side of the road. 

That the deponent thereafter attended the advanced 
corp under Lt. Col. Pratt^ and Major McKinster. 
That about moon rise, the Gen' ordered the troops in 
motion, and marched to Fort Hunter, and that the 
troops immediately crossed the river, or Schoharie 
creek in scows, and while the Gen' was examining two 
deserters from the enemy. That the troops were 
halted on the west side of Schoharie creek till the 
artillery came np, which had gone a different route and 
joined them in a short time. 

That the troops then marched on without delay to 
Van Eps, where they arrived about four o'clock and 
halted not more than an hour. That during that halt, 
letters were written by order of the Gen' to Co? Dubois 
and Col° Brown, informing them of his approach with 



1 Three miles west of the present village of Amsterdam. 

2 David Pratt, appointed lieutenant colonel, Nov. 4tli, 1778. 



188 NORTHERN INVASION. 

a body of troops, and tliat these letters were given in 
charge to a Mr. Wallace. 

That soon after the letters were dispatched, the 
troops were put in motion ; that tlie day then began to 
dawn. That the roads were very bad and tlie troops 
complained of being very much fatigued. That the 
whole body marched about four or five miles and 
halted at the ruins of a house, for a few minutes for 
the purpose of examining a prisoner taken that night. 
That the deponent then again joined the advance corps 
and proceeded on to a bridge, where he and Lt. Col. 
Pratt discovered a party of the enemy on the opposite 
side of the river. That the advance corps halted till 
the deponent rode down about a quarter of a mile to 
the Gen', (who was advancing with the troops), to 
inform him of the discovery of the enemy. That as 
that party of the enemy was out of the reach of 
musket shot, the Gen' ordered up a piece of artillery, 
whereupon the enemy dispersed. That the whole of 
the troops moved on to the south side of the river 
opposite Major Fry's ^ where (as the deponent had 
understood) the Gen' intended to cross the troops, but 
that on his arrival there, he found it impossible. That 
it was then between eight and ten o'clock. 

That a firing was then heard, which, from its 
direction, was supposed to be at Oswegatchie,^ and 



' Now opposite Cauajolmrie village. 

■^A settlement a short distance northeast trom Stone Arabia, in 
Palatine. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 189 

whicli afterwards proved to have been Colo Brown's 
rencounter with the enemy. 

That the advanced corps not being incumbered with 
any waggons or artillery moved on expeditiously. 
That with the main body were one ammunition 
waggon and two pieces of artillery, and that to the 
best of his knowledge, the baggage waggons were in 
the rear of the whole. 

That the main body moved on to a house about a 
mile below Fort Eensselaer. That it was then 
between 10 and 1 o'clock. That the troops halted 
there, and the Gen^ then rec'^ information of Col" 
Brown's defeat. That Col" Dubois and Col° Harper 
there waited on the Gen^ 

That the troops were ordered to refresh themselves, 
and the Gen^ gave orders for their crossing the ford as 
soon as they had refreshed themselves. 

That after delivering the orders for that purpose, 
the Gen' went with Colo Dubois to Fort Rensselaer. 
That the Deponent rec'^ orders from the Gen' to go 
and assist Mr. Le Boy in getting the troops over the 
ford. That he accordingly exerted himself in assisting 
Mr Le Boy to get the troops over the river. 

That the troops refused to ford the river, and 
waggons were drove into it, to facilitate their passage. 
That it was about an hour after the troops came to 
the ford before they began to cross, and that it was 
between two and three hours from their first arrival 
before they were all over. 



190 NORTHERN INVASION. 

That they crossed this ford in dift'erent ways. In 
some instances the waggons were drove into the river, 
behind each other, and the troops passed from one to 
the other by wading on the tongues. That Capt" 
Driskill came down to the ford, with orders from the 
Gen^ to hasten the crossing of the troops, and that 
Mr. Lansing also came and exerted himself in getting 
them over the river. 

That after they had all crossed, they were marched 
with dispatch to the Ferry where they joined the 
levies and Indians. That the General did there take 
the command of the whole. 

That after he had joined, the whole were divided 
into three columns ; the right composed of levies, and 
the left and centre of militia. That the Oneida 
Indians marched between the left and centre but 
sometimes changed th*>ir situation. 

That the troops marched in this order in pursuit of 
the enemy for some miles. That the centre and left 
columns were then subdivided, and continued their 
march. 

That Colo Harper came to the Gen' and advised 
him that an Oneida Indian had discovered the enemy 
near at hand on the low grounds. That soon there- 
after, the deponent discovered them drawn up in 
order. That the Gen' then ordered Mr. Lansing to 
the right, and the deponent to the left. 

That the firing on the enemy from the advance 
party of the centre then commenced about (200) two 



NORTHERN INVASION. 191 

hundred yards distance. That about the same time, 
Colo Cuyler's Regiment of the left column began to 
fire on the enemy at about four hundred yards distance. 

That the Gen' desired the Deponent to go to the 
left and order them to cease firing, and advance 
towards the enemy. That he thereupon went to the 
left and communicated the Gen'' orders, but that it 
was a considerable time before he could effect it. 

That that regiment advanced a little, and inclined 
towards the river when the deponent left it. 

That Colo Rensselaer's Reg' was advanced towards 
the enemy in an orchard in front of Klock's house. 
That after delivering the orders to Colo Cuyler's Reg*, 
he returned to the General, whom he found in the 
centre, with Col° Rensselaer's & Whiting's reg'^ which 
were then in the greatest disorder and confusion, and 
that the Gen' did exert himself to get them in order 
again. 

Question by the Court. At what time did the firing 
commence ? 

Ans''. At about sunset, and continued for about 
thirty minutes. 

Quest, by the Court. Did the general discover any 
"want of personal bravery and firmness, in the action 
of that day ? 

Ans"". He did not. 

Quest, by the Court. Was Colo Cuyler's Reg't also 
in disorder and confusion ? 

Ans^. They were. 



192 NORTHERN INVASION. 

Quest, by the Court. AVliat was the extreme distance 
between the front and rear of that regiment ? 

Ans^. About two hundred and fifty or three 
hundred yards. 

Quest, by Gen^ Rensselaer. Did not the rear of the 
left fire at the same time when the front did ? 

Alls'". They did. 

Quest, by Gen^ Rensselaer. Did you hear the reason 
assigned for ordering a retreat ? 

Ans". I did. I think the reason was, that the 
troops were in such confusion that it would be easy 
for a small party of the enemy to cut them to pieces. 

Quest, by the Court. Did the Gen' thro' the whole 
of his march from Schenectady upwards, discover a 
solicitude to come up with the enemy ? 

Ans". He even appeared anxious to come up with 
them. 

Quest, by the Court. Wliat was Gen' Rensselaer's 
conduct the day after the action ? 

Ans''. Colo Dubois with the levies marched in 
pursuit of the enemy the next morning, and the Gen' 
then ordered some light troops from the regiments of 
militia who were best able to march, to go as 
volunteers to overtake Col" Dubois. That the dep' 
went accordingly with about thirty volunteers. That 
on his way, the General "svith a party of horse, passed 
him at the Castle^ and that the deponent with his party 



' In the present town of Danube, opposite the mouth of East 
Canada creek. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 193 

marclied on and scarse came up with the Geii^ and 
Col° Dubois at Fort Herkimer. 

Tliat as soon as the main body of militia came 
up, the whole force marched in pursuit of the enemy 
about three or four miles above Fort Herkimer at 
Shoemakers', where they halted for some time. 
That a difference of opinion then arose on the route 
the enemy had taken, and on a consultation of the 
field officers, the whole of the troops returned to Fort 
Herkimer, where the Gov'" took the command. 

Quest, by Gen^ Bensselaer. Do you not recollect that 
I sent out three or four Indians to discover the 
enemy's track ? 

Ans". I do. 

Edward S. Willet, being sworn, says : That on the 
day of the action of the 19th October last, he was 
attached to the artillery. That he was at Fort 
Rensselaer and afterwards with Gen^ Rensselaer and 
Colo Dubois, on the bank of the river at the ferry. 
That he there received orders from the Gen' to go 
down to the jDlace where the militia were crossing, 
and desire the officers to hurry on the troops as quick 
as possible, which he did. 

Quest, by Gen^ Rensselaer. Do you not remember 
that the artillery and ammunition waggons frequently 
halted on account of the badness of the roads ? 

Ans^. I do, and particularly at and above Anthony's 
N"ose, where the ammunition waggon was delayed the 
horses being very much fatigued. 
25 



194 NORTHERN INVASION. 

Lieut. Garret W. Van Scliaick/ being sworn says : 
That lie was in the field of action on the 19th Oct. 
last: 

That "when Col" Cuyler's Regiment, and the other 
troops were advancing towards the enemy then yet 
out of the reach of musket sliot, Col° Cuyler's reg* 
began to fire upon the enemy, and rushed on a few 
paces, which broke the line or order they were in. 
That soon after, they were in great disorder and 
confusion and the deponent saw Gen' Rensselaer with 
them, endeavoring to form them. That the Gen' 
exerted himself greatly on this occasion, but his 
efforts were fruitless. That the troops were worn 
down with fatigue occasioned by the long and rapid 
march and the want of rest the preceding night. 

The court adjourned till Tuesday morning. 

7 o'clock, March W\ 1780. 

The court met pursuant to adjournment and adjourned 
till the 16"^ at 6 o'clock p. m. 

March 16*'' the court met. 

Col" Samuel Clyde,^ being sworn says. That on 
the day of the action of the 19th October last, he 
commanded a party of Tryon county militia. That 
he was at Wolrod's ferry near Fort Rensselaer at the 
time when Gen' Rensselaer with the militia arrived at 
Adam Countryman's, about a mile below it. That he 



^ First lieutenant of Captain Roseboom's company, Mar ch 3,1780. 
2 Commander of the Canajoharie district regiment; appointed Jan. 

25, 1778. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 195 

crossed the ferry to the north side with the levies and 
militia, ahout one o'clock p. m. by Col° Dubois' orders. 
That he had orders to halt there till Geu' Rensselaer 
should join him. 

That about three or four hours thereafter, the Gen' 
with his militia joined the levies and militia at the 
ferry, when without the least dela}'^, the whole force 
marched with the greatest expedition till they came up 
with the enemy. That the militia commanded by the 
deponent were attached to the levies under Colo. 
Dubois on the right. 

That the deponent was not informed of the disposition 
of the other troops, and had no opportunity to observe 
it, as he marched immediately into the woods on the hill. 
That the troops marched about four miles, till they 
had got above Col°. Klock's. That he then heard a 
firing near Klock's house ; but that the right continued 
their march with design to out flank the enemy. That 
upon finding that the right had got above the enemy, 
two or three platoons of levies and militia were 
detached (by Maj. Benschoten) from the rear, to 
attack a body of the enemy who were posted about 
one hundred rods above Klock's. That that detach- 
ment fired six or seven platoons when the enemy fled, 
and the troops returned to their post. 

That the right was then ordered to halt, until Col°. 
Dubois waited on the Gen' for orders. 

That it was then so dark as to render it difficult to 
enter into action with safety ; as it was hardly possible 



196 NORTHERN INVASION. 

to distiiignisli our troops and the enemy from one 
anotlier. That he then observed a cross fire upon the 
right, from the low lands, which he supposed to have 
come from the enemy, but that he was the same 
evening informed by Col°. Dubois, that it proceeded 
from our own troops. 

That the right remained in that situation for about 
half an hour. That the enemy could just be discerned 
and part of them were then heard crossing the river. 
That the daylight was then in, and the troops received 
orders to march, and they proceeded towards Klock's 
house, where they halted a short space of time. 

That on hearing the groanings of a man that lay 
wounded in the field of action, he detached six men to 
bring him in. That these men with some others, 
brought in the artillery waggons and artillery which 
had been deserted by the enemy. That a report of 
this matter was sent to Gen'. Rensselaer, two or three 
hours after dark. 

That it was agreed between this deponent and Maj. 
Benschoten to halt the troops and remain on the ground 
where they were, and that soon after, Col°. Dubois came 
to them with orders that they should remain on the 
ground near Klock's. 

That he did not hear of any council of war being 
held, and a retreat resolved on. That Col° Dubois 
informed the deponent and ISIaj. Benschoten, that the 
Gen' would be with them in the morning, and that 
they were to march in pursuit of the enemy. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 197 

That tlie levies under Col°. Dubois, and the militia 
commanded by the deponent, marched accordingly 
about an hour after sunrise, and before the Gen' 
came up with them. That he heard the Gen' lodged 
at Fox's about three or four miles below Klock's. 
That Col". Dubois and the deponent, and their 
troops marched to Fort Herkimer and arrived there 
about two o'clock, being about eighteen or twenty 
miles. That about an hour after, they were joined 
by the general with a party of horse, and that 
some time thereafter. Major Morris, with a party 
of militia came up; and that about two hours after 
the General's arrival they were joined by a body 
of militia. That then (about four o'clock), all the 
troops marched from Fort Herkimer (about six miles), 
to Shoemaker's. 

GenP Question. Do you know the reason of our 
marching to Shoemaker's ? 

Alls''. The enemy had marched into the woods, 
and it was supposed they only meant to avoid the 
little forts which were along the public road, and 
would come into the road again at Shoemaker's. 

Gen^^ Quest. Did you not hear that we were at a 
loss to know which way the enemy had gone, and do 
you not recollect that three Indians were sent out by 
me to discover their track ? 

A. I did hear that it was doubtful which route the 
enemy had taken and that the Indians were sent out. 

Quest. Did we remain there that night, or did we 



198 NORTHERN INVASION. 

return, — and when — and do you know tlic reason of 
our return ? 

Ans. "We remained there till near dark, and then 
returned to Fort Herkimer. I do not know the reason 
why. I heard the scouts had been out and returned, 
and that they could not discover that the enemy had 
gone that way. 

Quest. Did not the governor join us at Fort Her- 
kimer ? 

Ans. He did, some time in that night. 

Quest. Had you on the 19th Oct" from your situa- 
tion, any opportunity of seeing the confusion that 
prevailed on our left and centre ? 

Ans. I had not. 

Quest. Do you think it would have been prudent in 
me, to have engaged the enemy wdth the party of 
levies and militia wdio were on the north side of the 
river, at Wolrod's ferry, before the militia who were 
below came up ? 

Ans. 1 do not think it would. 

Quest by tlic Court. Did you on the 19th or 20th 
October, or at any time before, discover any want of 
personal bravery and firmness in Gen' Rensselaer ? 

Ans. I never did, before, nor did I at any time on 
those daj^s. 

John Lansing Jun'', Esqr. being sworn, says as 
follows : On the 17th of October last, in the after- 
noon, I accompanied Gen' Rensselaer in quality of 
Aid-major from Albany to Schenectady. The city of 



NORTHERN INVASION. 199 

Albany militia, and some other regiments liaving 
previously proceeded on tlieir marcli to tliat place. 
"We overtook and passed a number of the militia 
before we arrived at that place, and Col°. Van 
Alstyne's reg' which had been directed to march 
by the way of Nestagiuna, not having arrived at 
Schenectady in the evening, the general sent an 
express to him, with orders to hasten his march, so as 
to be at Schenectady at daybreak next morning. 

In the mean time, the general having been informed 
that the enemy were still burning in the lower parts 
of Schoharie, convened some of the principal inhabit- 
ants of Schenectady, and advised with them on the 
practicability of procuring a number of horses and 
waggons by the next morning, to convey such militia 
as could be collected, towards the enemy, with the 
greatest expedition. 

The attempt was made in the course of the night, 
but a number very inadequate to the service could 
only be procured. The issuing commissary was the 
same evening sent for to inform the general of the 
state of provisions at Schenectady. It appeared from 
his information, as I was advised by Gen' Rensselaer 
an hour or two after he was sent for, that there was 
not a sufficiency of provisions of the meat Idnd to 
victual the troops for a day, and a very small quantity 
of bread. Some cattle arriving destined for the 
garrison of Fort Schuyler, the general ordered some 
of them to be killed for the use of the militia. Tliose 



200 NOETIIERN INVASION. 

were to have been ready at daybreak, but the bread 
which was ordered to be baked, and the cattle directed 
to be killed, did not get ready till about nine o'clock 
in the morning, before which orders were issued to 
march as soon as the j)ro\d8ions should be received. 

"While we were at Schenectady on the morning of 
the I8th, General Rensselaer wrote a letter, or directed 
me to write to Colonel Staats or Veeder (I cannot 
charge my memory to which), directing him, as nearly 
as I can recollect, to call upon Major Woolsey, and to 
take all the force he could collect from the different 
posts at Schohary, without exposing the forts too 
much, pursue the enemy, and hang on their rear, 
avoiding however an engagement, and advising the 
General from time to time, of the route, numbers, and 
such other particulars respecting the enemy as he could 
collect. 

I believe it was between nine and ten o'clock 
before the militia got in march. They marched on 
the 18th, as far as Sir William Johnson's old place on 
the Mohawk River, which I think I was informed 
was sixteen miles above Schenectady. We arrived 
there after it was dark, and took post on a hill. 

A council was called by the General as soon as the 
troops could be properly disposed of, consisting of a 
number of field ofiicers and the General suo-o-ested to 
them the necessity of taking measures to procure 
intelligence of the enemy's route. It was agreed to 
send out a party to make discoveries, and which was 



NORTHERN INVASION. 201 

accordingly done. The Tnghtenunda ^ Hill being- 
covered witli woods, and it being very dark, the 
council agreed in sentiment, that it would be most 
advisable to remain on the ground on which we then 
were, till the moon should begin to appear. We 
accordingly remained I think till some time before 
the moon rose, when the march was resumed. We 
arrived at Fort Hunter (I think) about twelve. The 
militia were directed to cross the Schoharie creek, 
which was soon effected in a scow and the waggons. 

I went into the fort with the General, who examined 
a prisoner that had been taken and brought in, and 
upon coming out we crossed the creek and found most 
of the militia on the west side. We then marched 
on, and I do not recollect that we made any halt after 
leaving the creek, till we got to Van Ep's where we 
halted, I think about an hour. Here the General 
directed me to write to Colonels Dubois and Brown, 
advising them of his situation and his intentions to 
pursue the enemy closely, and to attack them by 
break of day. In consequence of these orders, I wrote 
a letter to Col° Dubois, of which I believe the paper 
Col° Harper produced to the court is a copy. Another 
was dispatched to Colonel Brown. The General 
received the account at Van Eps, by one Wallace, that 
the enemy were encamped at Anthony's Nose, on both 
sides of the river, we continued our march to a field 



1 Chuctanimda. 

26 



202 NORTHERN INVASION. 

at some distance from the east side of tlic Xose. It 
was then some time advanced in the day. Here we 
halted. The ammunition was inspected, and an 
additional quantity distributed among the troops. 
Colonel Louis was sent out to reconnoitre 'Anthony's 
IS^ose, which is a very dangerous defile. 

Upon his return, and reporting that he had made no 
discoveries, and after the issues of ammunitions were 
completed, which might possibly have taken an hour, 
the militia were ordered on. After proceeding to the 
west side of the 'Nose, we discovered a party of about 
forty of the enemy on the north side of the Mohawk 
River who were bending their course towards the river. 
Our advance was then about one quarter of a mile in 
front of the main body. Capt" Driskill of the artillery 
was with a field piece with the advance guard. I was 
directed by the Gen' to go to the advance guard and 
order the officer commanding it, to make proper 
dispositions to intercept the enemy, should they cross 
a ford, which it was said was in our front, as the 
general supposed they mistook our troops for those of 
the enemy. I rode to the advance, and delivered my 
orders. They halted for some time, and Cap* Driskill 
upon my returning desired me to beg the general to 
give the enemy's party a shot or two. When I 
returned, I communicated Driskill's request. Gen' 
Rensselaer observed to me, our business was not so 
much to frighten the enemy as to fight them, and that 
a compliance with Driskill's request would only tend 



NORTHERN INVASION. 203 

to discover to the enemy that we were in force. "We 
continued marching on, without making any general 
halt, that I recollect, till we arrived at the ford, about 
a mile to the eastward of Fort Rensselaer. The 
militia stopped here to refresh themselves not having 
had time to cook their provisions since their leaving 
Schenectady, the enemy being then burning from the 
direction of their fires at Stone Arabia. 

Soon after the halt, Gen' Rensselaer went to Fort 
Rensselaer, to which place I followed him and dined. 
Immediately after dinner. Gen' Rensselaer directed 
me to go down to the militia and order them across 
the river as soon as possible. Wlien I came down to 
the place where they had halted, I found that some 
had already crossed the river on waggons and others 
were following their example. But they went across 
very tardily, complaining of being too much harrassed 
by a forced march and many appeared much dispirited 
on account of Brown's defeat which was generally 
known among them. 

Imagining that the crossing would be expedited by 
forming a bridge across the river with our waggons, 
I suggested it to some of the field oflicers who agreed 
with me in sentiment, but the orders given for the 
execution of this service, were executed with such 
reluctance, that at least two hours elapsed before the 
militia had crossed, tlio' many of the oflicers exerted 
themselves to facilitate their conveyance across the 
river. 



204 NOKTilEKN INVASION. 

While the iiiilitia were crossing, I received two 
messages from the General, to push them on with all 
expedition, which was communicated to the field 
ofHcers on the g'round. 

Ill the mean time, an attempt was made to induce 
them to ford the river, but proved unavailing. As 
soon as they were crossed, they were marched to the 
place w^here the levies had crossed the river, and were 
formed and counted off in sections. The enemy were 
then about two miles in advance, burning the 
buildings as they proceeded. 

After we had marched on some distance, the general 
directed me to ^\a"ite a letter to his Excellency the 
Governor, advising him that he was near the enemy, 
and intended to attack as soon as he could overtake 
them. While I was writing, the disposition of the 
troops Avas made for an attack. 

Upon my overtaking the General, who was at the 
head of what I was told was the centre column, I rode 
with him some minutes, when he observed to me, 
that the militia on the left, were marching on without 
observing any order, and directed me to go to them, 
and order them to march more compactly. I went 
down and gave the orders to Colonel Cuyler and some 
other officers. Upon my return to the General, I 
observed a number of men in advance of the centre, 
as I afterwards found, and upon my taldng the shortest 
route towards them, I found they were Indians. I 
enquired of one of them whether he had seen the 



NOIITIIKKN INVASION. 205 

General. He liappeiicd not to nnderstand nic, and 
while I was endeavoring to make him nnderstand me 
the Indians hegan to fire, and received a warm one 
in return. The first fire, my horse fell with me. By 
this time, the troops in the low ground had commenced 
a firing at long shot from the enemy, broke, and 
some ran. I again made an attempt to mount my 
horse, but finding that he would not stand fire, I ran 
down towards the left, one of the militia attending 
me and leading my horse, till I came to Van Alstyne's 
regiment which was broke. I assisted in rallying it, 
which was partly eftected. I then went to Colonel 
Cuyler's and endeavored to assist the ofiicers in rallying 
that regiment, which was also partly rallied : but 
part of another regiment (Van Alstyne's I think) 
firing at Cuyler's they again broke, and could not be 
rallied. 

A similar confusion seemed to prevail in every part 
of the troops on the left. I did not see General 
Rensselaer after the firing commenced, till it had 
somewhat subsided, and from the direction of the fire, 
it appeared that the enemy's had entirel}^ ceased, when 
he exerted to rally Cuyler's and other regiments on 
the left. He observed to me, that the confusion and 
darkness was such, that it would be imprudent to 
engage the enemy in the night, and directed me to 
assist in marching ofl^ the troops. 

When the firing commenced on our part, the rear 
of two regiments in the low grounds, were strung 



206 NORTHERN INVASION. 

along a Imiiclrcd and Hfty or two lumdred yards 
beliind tlie frout, and kept up a warm fire, as well as 
the front, but tlie direction of the fire seemed to.be 
up in the air. 

At the time the engagement began it was dark, and 
in a few minutes it was quite dark, which I believe 
was occasioned by the smoke of the buildings which 
were burnt by the enemy. 

Immediately after the firing on the part of the 
enemy ceased, I heard several exclamations at diiferent 
times, by the militia on the low grounds, that they 
were in danger to be cut to pieces and surrounded by 
the enemy and many of them expressed a great 
disposition to run oft". 

In the evening of the action, I suggested to the 
general, that the troops were without provisions and 
I recollect he informed me, that he had ordered the 
provisions to be over early in the morning, but it did 
not arrive till after sunrise. 

In the same evening, the General informed me, 
that he had given orders to Col". Dubois, for the 
marching of the levies in pursuit of the enemy the 
next morning, by break of day, or before day, (I do 
not recollect which), and those troops marched 
accordingly. 

As soon as the militia had got their provisions and 
cooked and eat it, they marched also, I think about 
an hour after sunrise (but this I cannot ascertain with 
precision). 



NORTHERN INVASION. 207 

On tlie march, the general desired that a small 
detachment of men of the different regiments who 
were best able to go on, shonld turn ont as volunteers, 
to overtake, and who went on to join Co?. Dubois. 
If I recollect right, this detachment was made in 
consequence of intelligence received, that Col". 
Dubois was very near the enemy. 

The General went on, escorted by a small number 
of horsemen, to join Col°. Dubois. I followed him, 
and we arrived at Fort Herkimer about two o'clock. 
About two hours after, the militia joined us and halted 
a small space of time. 

. Here the General received intelligence, that the 
enemy had struck off from the public road to avoid 
the fort, and had taken the route to Shoemaker's. 

The General then marched the troops on to near 
Shoemaker's. It was there become doubtfal what route 
the enemy had taken, and parties of Indians and white 
men were sent out to discover their track who returned 
and finally reported that from the observations they 
could make, the enemy had not gone that way. 

^Hien the general found that he had mistaken the 
enemy's route, he ordered the troops to return to fort 
Herkimer, with intentions (as was said), to fall in with 
their track, to the southward of Fort Herkimer. It was 
just dark, when the troops marched from Shoemaker's 
towards Fort Herkimer. 

The next morning the governor took the command. 

Question by the Court. From the whole tenor of 



208 NORTHERN INVASION. 

Gcii' Rensselaer's eonduct in liis niarcli up the 
Moliawk River, liad yon reason to suppose that he 
"was anxious to come up with the enemy? 

Avs"". IFe ajipeared to be very much so, in every 
part of his •conduct. 

Quest, hj Court. Did yon, in or before the action 
of the 19"" October, discover any want of firmness, 
or personal bravery in the general ? 

Ans^. From wliat I observed of his conduct, before 
the action, he appeared to possess himself fully, and 
in the course of that action, or after it he did not 
betray the least want of resolution or tiruiuess, as far 
as fell under my observation. 

The court then adjourned till Saturday morning, 
March 17"", at 7 o'clock. 

The court met pursuant to adjournment. 

Upon duly considering the proofs and allegations 

respecting B. Gen^ Rensselaer's conduct on the 

incursions of the enemy into Tryon county, in October 

last : The Court do unanimously rej)ort their opinion : 

That the whole of General Rensselaer's conduct both 

before and after, as well as in, the action of the 19th 

of October last, was not only unexceptionable, but 

such as became a good, active, faithful, prudent and 

spirited officer, and that the public chuuors raised to 

his prejudice on that account, are without the least 

foundation. 

Jacobus Swartwout, Presd' 

His Excellency, Governor Clinton. 



NORTIIKIIN INVASION. iJOl) 



Memorial of the Supervisors of Tn/on Coun/i/. 

At a meeting' of tlie supervisors of Tryoii county on 
the 20tli day of December, 1780 : 

The supervisors being convened according to the 
directions of the several acts for raising men during 
the war; for raising by tax a sum equal to 150,000 
doHars in specie, and for drawing forth the supphes 
allotted to this state passed in the last setting of tlie 
legislature: — and having taken the same into con- 
sideration, are obliged to observe, that in the former 
situation of the county, the quotas allotted to us might 
have been raised, but that in the present situation, we 
are persuaded, that as to the two former acts, it is out of 
the power of the county to comply with them, without 
distressing us in the highest degree. The latter cannot 
be complied with, without starving great numbers of 
people who have been burned out and abandoned their 
plantations. The poverty and inability of our people 
are such, that we think that in the present impoverished 
state of the country, it is unjust and unreasonable to 
be called upon for such large proportions of men, 
money and supplies, willing and ready as we always 
have been in our exertions for the public good, we 
cannot be understood to censure the legislature for 
passing the laws, for at the time thereof, we think we 
might have raised our quotas, but we mean to show 
that at present we have not that ability. 
27 



iJiO NORTHERN INVASION. 

In order to set the state of the country in a proper 
point of view, we have with great trouble and labor, 
got attested returns made of the number of buildings 
burned, of families moved from their plantations, of 
persons ran away to the enemy, of the number killed 
and taken prisoners, and as near as could be, the farms 
which lie uncultivated by reason of our defenceless 
situation: — By which it appears, that 700 buildings 
have been burnt, 354 families have abandoned their 
plantations and moved from the county, 613 persons 
have deserted to the enemy, 197 persons have been 
killed, 121 persons are prisoners with the enemy. 
The number of uncultivated farms in consequence of 
incursions by and desertions to the enemy amounts to 
at least 1,200. 

The whole of the county is not included in the 
above. Eeturns from Cherry Valley, Newtown-Martiu, 
Springfield, Harpersfield and Old England district, 
by reason of a total desertion of these settlements could 
not be got. The inhabitants have some deserted to 
the enemy, the greater number moved in. 

When the above was made up, returns from three 
companies in Colonel Fisher's regiment had not come 
in, one of which is nearly burned out. 

To make our misery and distress appear clear, it 
is observable, that in Col° Bellinger's regiment, 
which comprehends the German Flatts and Kingsland 
districts, there are not more than forty-four farms 
cultivated, on which live 139 families, besides the 



NORTHERN INVASION. 211 

owners, tlio produce whereof in time of peace would 
not maintain more tlian 183 families, so that making 
allowance for the dangers we are daily exposed to, 
tliej have not sufficient by a great deal for their sub- 
sistence. Eighty-eight families have moved lower down . 

That in Col" Klock's regiment, comprehending 
Palatine district, the greater part of the buildings are 
destroyed with the grain, one full third of the farms lie 
uncultivated j and not above 50 farmers left, who have 
any grain to spare : added to the large number of 
refugees from the upper Canajohary districts makes it 
evident beyond a doubt that this district has not bread 
till the ensuing harvest. 

The greater half of Canajohary is destroyed; some 
parts so long ago as 1778, which since have not 
been tilled: some part last summer. The devas- 
tation and property of the inhabitants and refugees 
in this district are such, that the grain in it will 
be barely sufficient for the subsistence of those who 
remain in it. 

Caughnawaga district in Col" Fisher's regiment, is 
equally distressed with the two last having a large 
number of disaffected people on its back parts, who are 
a continual terror to the well affected, who in order to 
aid the country, raise no more than a sufficiency for 
themselves, with the double destruction of the ablest 
part of the district has undergone the part remaining 
being poor in general, added to a total destruction of 
a great part of the district shew a melancholy truth 



212 NORTHERN INVASION. 

that all the i;raiii reiiiaiuing therein, will not keep 
tlie inliabitants and refugees resident, till they can 
have the benefit of a new crop. 

The ^lohawk District in Col" Fislier's Reginient, 
has suffered the least by the enemy and is not so much 
burthened with refugees as the others, — has some 
grain to spare, but when the other parts of the country 
are supphed, what they fall short out of the super- 
fluities of the Mohocks, we apprehend that the 
quantity remaining will not be great. 

The causes of our distress arise chiefly from the 
following. 

The situation of the country make it an entire 
frontier, exposed to the inroads of the enemy from the 
north, west and south. The frequent irruptions and 
many murders committed by the enemy, the constant 
dread of a repetition thereof, have induced the people 
to build numbers of small picketed forts, in which 
they are cooped up from spring to fall, the militia 
being at half of their time on duty. The difficulty if 
not impossibility in these cases to work our lands. 
The work that is done, is performed by halfs only, 
and under continual fear of the tomahawk and 
scalping knife. The farms cultivated, are only those 
which lie near the picquets. The great and heavy 
losses sustained by us in lives, prisoners, desertions to 
the enemy, and [in] property, have occasioned the 
removal from the countrj^ of a very large number of 
families most of them our wealthiest people, and to 



NORTHERN INVASION. 213 

disliearteii tliose who remain, numbers more are now 
preparing to follow tliose already gone. 

Tlie people think, that what remains of this once 
flom-ishing county will he destroyed the ensuing 
summer. The nature of the war in these parts is such, 
that a small force may do it. 

Having literally sacrificed our lives and fortunes, 
in defence of the Liberties of America, the supervisors 
are sorry to hold up the language of despondence, but 
the justice we owe to ourselves our constituents and 
our country, the apprehensions we entertain that 
the peculiar circumstances of this county, and the 
great distresses of the people have never been fully 
made known by those whose duty it was, -render it 
indispensible. The necessity of the case obliges us 
to do it, in the plain language of truth and without 
exaggeration. 

We cannot help representing as grievances, that 
upwards of one hundred tory women with destitute 
families are remaining in Caughnawaga district. 
The collection of the rents from the tenants of Sir 
John Johnson and Col" Butler in the same district, 
due since the Declaration of Independence, at this 
time fall exceeding hard on that district, as thereby 
that grain is taken away, which is necessary for their 
consumption. 

As the taking away cattle, at the point of the 
bayonet might have been necessary for the subsistence 
of troops, we do not complain of it, but the refusal 



'214 NORTHEUN INVASION. 

of proper vouchers by those wlio executed that 
l)ushiess, is a grievance we cannot overlook. The 
hirge numbers of stock drove off by the enemy, at 
different times, makes the hardship of having our 
cattle seized the greater. 

The consequences of the depreciation of the paper 
currency is, that we can obtain neither the necessaries 
nor conveniences of life but by barter for grain. 

Money we have none, as the supplies furnished the 
public for upwards of a year past, are not yet paid. 

The depreciation it is confessed, has arisen from 
several causes. Whatever cause it is ascribed to, we 
feel ourselves entirely free of it, as we can make it 
appear, that until the last spring, the prices were 
always lower with us than below, and we seldom if 
ever received the current price below for our grain here. 

The reasons that we have not raised every tax 
demanded of us by law, are, as to one tax, a disagree- 
ment between the supervisors and assessors in assessing 
the estate real and personal, and as to the others, the 
want of money, the destitution of the country, and 
the consequent misery and distress of its inhabitants, 
arising from the causes, and in the manner above 
related. 

It is ordered that a fair copy of the above be made 
and transmitted to his Excellency the Governor, and 
that the clerk of this board sign the same. 
Signed by order of the Supervisors. 

Isaac Paris, Clerk. 



NORTHERN INVASION. 



215 



Report of Losses in the Territory of the Tryon County 
Brigade^ since the heginning of the War. Made Decem- 
ber 1, 1780. 











a 




id 
o 


a ■ 

=3 05 


i 




a 


Regiments, &c. 


s o 


t 

OS 

a 


m 
a 

o 


3 

a 


a 
a 
_2 


a 
o 


ai a 




S 

a 


J2 

1 
=4: 




'^ 


K 


w 


pq 


5 


50 


PL, 

46 


52 


6 




Col. Bellinger's Reg't 


139 


25 


131 


112 




" Klock's 


854 


35 


154 






48 


27 


97 


1 




" Fisher's 


600 


470 


105 




5 


23 


13 


83 




2 


Capt. Cloyt's 


393 


73 


69 


58 


1 


71 


38 


86 


1 




" Ruber's Comp 




10 


64 


170 


11 


5 
197 


10 
134 


36 
354 


2 


2 


Total. 


1,386 


613 


523 


4 



Persons who have gone to the enemy : 

Adam Helmer & son, Peter Doring, William Cox, 
Jacob Didricli, Robert Smicht and Rudolpli Schoe- 
marker. 

Capt. Herter reported 36 bouses, 29 barns and 2 
mills as burned, 6 males and 2 females killed, 3 males 
taken prisoners, and 24 males and 28 females wbo bad 
moved out of tbe district since tlie commencement of 
tbe war. 

Capt. Staring reported 38 bouses 34 barns and 3 
mills burnt, 26 males and 5 females killed; 16 males 
and 3 females taken; and 3 males and 33 females 
moved out since beginning of tbe war. 

Capt Fred Frank in tbe like period reported 64 
houses 55 barns and 3 mills burned, 36 males and 10 
females killed, 37 males and 11 females taken, and 
11 males and 44 females moved out of tbe district. 



INDEX. 



Alarms, 31, 33, 40. 

Albany, Address of Common 

Council, of, 137; County, 34 

Gov. Clinton o-oes to, 96 

Militia, 36, 198 ; Quota, 90 

troops for, 101. 
Allen, Captain, 77. 
Allen, Ebenezcr, 57. 
Allen, Ethan, jealousy of, 39, 83, 

145. 
Allen, Major, 29. 
Ambuscade near Oneida Lake, 

130 ; of Col. Brown, 15. 
Amsterdam, 179, 187. 
Andrustown, 22, 119. 
Anthony's Nose, 28, 54, 173, 193, 

201, 202. 
Arnold, Col. Brown's quarrel 

with, 157. 
Arnold's treason, nllusion to, 63, 

64, 98, 157, 158. 
Articles of Confederation, 41 ; of 

capitulation of Fort George, 

92. 
Assessment of supplies, 83. 
Atoiatonharonkwen, 173. 



Backus, John, 787. 

Ballston, 18, 124, 131, 132, 134, 

141, 144; enemy at, 45, 90, 

105. 
Barrett, Ensign, 44, 92. 
Balchellor, Zephaniah, 84. 
Bateaux guarded, 33. 
Beautifuf Elm in Panton, 128. 
Becker, Joim, 48. 
Beldinu-, Capt., 97. 
Beldin'tr, Col., 98. 
Bell, Georo-e Henry, 118, 119. 
Bellinger, Col. Peter, letter of, 65 ; 

letter to, from Gov. Clinton, 

126; Col., Regiment of, 210, 



215. 



Benschoten, Major, 170, 183, 195, 

196. 
Benson, Col., 144. 
Benson, Robert, 114. 
Bethlehem, N. Y., 113. 
Biographical notices: Bellinger, 
°Peter, 65 ; Brown, Col. John, 
57, Cantine, John, 164 ; Carle- 
ton, Chris., 108; Chipman, 
Capt. John, 100 ; Cook, Col. 
Louis, 173; Drake, Joshua, 
130 ; Dubois, Lewis, 119, 165 ; 
Duncan, Richard; Gordon, 
James, 45 ; Gros, Rev. Johau 
Daniel, 87 ; Harper, John, 
165; Harper, William, 171; 
Hushes, Peter, 146; Jansen, 
Johannis, 70 ; Lansing, John, 
Jr., 165 ; Lush, Stephen, 91 ; 
McCracken, Joseph, 129 ; 
McKinstry, John, 174 ; Mur- 
phy, Tiniothy, 52; Patter- 
son, Eleazer, 78; Schuyler, 
Stephen, 9, 115; Sherwood, 
Adriel, 43 ; Snyder, Johannis, 
113; Staats, Barent J., 113; 
Swartwout, Jacobus, 164; 
Ten Broeck, xibraham, 113; 
Thomas, Thomas, 164; Van 
Buntschoten, Elias, 170 ; Van 
Rensselaer, Robert, 104 ; Van 
Schaick, Col., 9, 67; Van 
Veghten, Hendrick, 176 ; 
Van Woert, Lewis, 143; 
Veeder, Volkert, 49; Vroo- 
man, Walter, 130 ; Webster, 
Allen, 111 ; Weisseufels, 
Frederick H., 147 ; Wempel, 
Abraham, 131 ; Woolsey, 
Mclancton L., 48, 51 ; Yates, 
Christopher P., 20. 
Bleecker, John, 80, 81. 
Bloody Pond, 122, 123. 
Board of War, 23. 



28 



218 



INDEX. 



Bogart, Ciipt., 48. 

Boston, Convention at, 75. 

Bradnor, Lieut., 84. 

Brant, Joseph, 17, 19, 20, 80, 33, 

84, 42, 47, 55, 68, 70, 80, 89, 

98, 90, 106, 154, 174. 
Brattlel)()rou_iih, 78. 
British Aiicnts, inliueuce of, 31. 
iiroAvn, Ileurv, 58. 
Brown, Col. John, 50, 57, 77, 110, 

139, 155, 166, 107, 173, 180, 

187, 189, 201, 203. 
Bryon, Matthew, 00. 
Biick Ishxnd, 02. 
Bufialo, 173. 

Bulwagga Bay, 28, 45, 128, 134. 
Bursioyne's Invasion, 22, 57, 

148. 
Butler, Col. Jolm, 17, 42, 47, 76, 

89, 98, 96, 100, 154 ; events 

due to, 213. 
Butler's Regiment, 27. 
Butterfield, Beuj., 78. 



Cadaughrity, 171. 

Cadorotty, 171. 

Cambridge, N.Y., 142. 

Canada, expedition from, ex- 
pected, 40. 

Canajoharie, 20, 20, 34, 58, 85, 
88, 115, 125, 138, 139, 188, 
194; destroyed, 34, 211, 213 ; 
casualties at, 37. 

Canaghsioraga, 137. 

Canashraga, 130. 

Caneseraga, 130. 

Cannon, enemy supplied with, 
42. 

Cantine, Col. John, 164. 

Capitulation of Fort George, 32. 

Carleton, Major Christopher, 48, 
44, 89, 98, 99, 108, 122, 124, 
183, 184, 135. 

Carleton Island, 120. 

Carleton, vessel, 99. 

Castle, 192. 

Castleton, 148. 

Casualties in Tryon county, table 
of, 215. 

Cattle, press w^arrant for, 120. 

Cauffhnawaga, 55, 123, 173. 

Cayuga, N. Y., 146. 

Cedars, 173. 

Clianil)ly, Col. Brown at, 57. 

Charleston, 82. 



Charlotte county, 21, 24, 29, 132 ; 
quotas, 90. 

Cherry Valley, 17, 20. 

Chin, ]Mr., 144. 

Chipman, Capt. John, 44, 92. 98, 
100,115. 

Chittenden, Gov., letter of, to 
Gov. Clinton, 111. 

Chucktinunda creek, 179. 

Chucktinunda hill, 180, 185, 187. 

Church burned at Stone Arabia, 
116. 

Church, Timothy, 78. 

Cinge, Adam, 87. 

Clapp, Daniel, 154. 

Clark, Major, 69. 

Claverack, 94, 105. 

Clinton, Gov. DeWitt, 88. 

Clinton, Gov. George, 29, 38, 53, 
54,61, 204; letters to, from 
Col. Van Schaick, 67, 74; 
Lt. Col. Johannis Janscn, 
69, 71 ; Col. J. Newkirk, 73 ; 
Gen. R. Van Rensselaer, 70, 
94, 103, 115, 117; Col. E. 
Patterson, 77 ; citizens of 
Tryon county, 83 ; Ste- 
phen Lush, 89; Gen. W. 
Heath, 101 ; Col. B. I. Staats, 
100; Gov. T. Chittenden, 

111 ; Isaac 8toutenburgh, 

112 ; Gen. Ten Broeck, 113, 
114, 142, 150; Col. Lewis 
Du Bois, 119 ; Gen. Schujier, 
123, 140; Col. A. Webster; 
Gen. Washington, 159 ; let- 
ters of, to Col. Jansen, 69 ; 
Col. Newkirk, 70 ; Col. Paw- 
ling, 72 ; Gen. Washington, 
74,^97, 151, 157 ; citizens of 
Cumberland county, 78 ; 
Col. G. Van Schaick, 81; 
Gen. P. Schuyler, 82, 105, 
125; Col. Klock, 87, 120; 
Gen. Van Rensselaer, 95 ; 
Gen. Greene, 96; Col. Bel- 
linger, 120 ; Ebenezer Rus- 
sell, 182 ; James Duane, 143 ; 
Gen. Heath, 147 ; address of 
mayor and council of Al- 
bany ; 137 ; reply of, 189. 

Clinton, Sir Henry, 82. 
Clinton, General James, to 

command at Albany, 42, 

83, 101. 
Clinton Co., 48. 



INDEX. 



219 



Clothing, want of, 156 ; supplied, 

80, 81. 
Clothing agent, 80. 
Clojn, Capt., 215. 
Clyde, Col. Samuel, testimony 

of, 194. 
Columbia College, 88. 
Conawaga destroyed, 85. 
Connecticut, delegates from, 75. 
Connecticut VaUey, expedition 

to, 46, 189. 
Connestigone, 178. 
Convention of States at Boston, 

75. 
Cook, Col. Louis, 173, 202. 
Coppernoll, Nicholas, 87. 
Cornplanter, anecdote of, 35. 
Cornwallis, 168. 

Countryman, Adam, 87, 174, 194. 
Court of Inquiry, proceedings 

of, 164 ; decision of, 208. 
Cox, William, 215. 
Crown Point, 27, 45, 116, 155. 
Cruelty of Indians, alleged, 44. 
Cumberland County, 21, 24,38,78. 
Cushing, Thomas, 75. 
Cuyler, Mr., 116. 
Cuvler, Col., 60, 142, 176, 181, 
'191, 204, 205. 



Danae, Ship, 133. 

Decision of Court of Inquiry, 208. 

Depreciation of currency, 38, 214. 

Deserter, 118. 

DeWitt. Major, 72, 73. 

Deygert, Peter, S., 84, 87. 

Didrich, Jacob, 215. 

Dillenbeck, John, 59. 

Disaffected families, 84. 

Doriug, Peter, 215. 

Drake, Joshua, 130. 

Drake, Col. Samuel, letter to, 
from Capt. Lawrence, 129. 

Driskill, Joseph, 121, 180, 181, 
190, 202. 

Duane, James, letter to, from 
Gov. Clinton, 143. 

Duane, Mrs., 146. 

Dubois, Col. Lewis, 60, 116, 119, 
152, 166, 167, 166, 168, 169, 
170, 187, 189, 192, 193, 195, 
196, 197, 201, 207; Lewis, 
letter of, to Gen. Van Ren- 
sselaer, 118; Gov. Clinton, 
119. 



Drew, Mr., 157. 

Duncan, Capt. Richard, 55. 

Dutchess County, 24; quotas, 

90. 
Dyckman, Sampson, letter of, to 

Gov. Clinton, 117 ; testimony 

of, 185. 



East Canada Creek, 142. 

Elliott's, 172. 

Epitaph of Timothy Murphy, 

52. 
Escort of provisions, 156. 



Faling, John A., 59. 

Fall iiill, 118, 119. 

Federal government, early move- 
ment toward, 75. 

Feeck, John, 47. 

Ferguson, Col., 163. 

Ferry, 190. 

Fisher, Col., regiment of, 210, 
211, 212, 215. 

Fishkill, 154, 164. 

Florida, N. Y., 172. 

Flour, press warrant for, 120. 

Floyd, Mr., 146. 

Folliot, Geo., 148. 

Fonda, Adam, 100. 

Fonda, Jellis, 32, 87. 

Fonda village, 55. 

Foord, Capt., 48. 

Ford where the enemy crossed, 
185. 

Fording of river, 189, 190, 203, 
204. 

Fort Ann, 24, 43, 57, 89, 93, 96, 

98, 99, 106, 122, 133, 136, 
155. 

Fort Carleton, 62. 

Fort Dayton, 28, 85, 127. 

Fort Edward, 23, 24, 44, 93, 96, 

99, 110, 124, 128, 141. 

Fort George, 89, 92, 95, 96, 100, 

106, 122, 133, 186, 155. 
Fort Herkimer, 23, 61, 62, 76, 

119, 127, 147, 148, 156, 193, 

197, 198, 207. 
Fort Hunter, 24, 54, 104, 107, 

116, 144, 171, 172, 177, 179, 

180, 185, 187, 201. 
Fortifications, location of, 22. 
Fort at Johnstown, 28. 
Fort Kej'ser, 57, 59. 



220 



INDEX. 



Fort Xia^am, 17, I'J. 

Fort Paris, 2(5, 82, 56, 57, 59. 

Fort Plain, 28, 7G, IIG, 166, 168, 

178. 
Fort Plank, 28, 85, 70. 
Fort Kcnssclacr, 60, 76, 181, 144, 

167, 16S, 178, 180, 181, 184, 

189, 1!)4, 208. 
Fort Schuvlor, 28, 80, 88, 36, 88, 

42, 58," 62, 68, 72, 74, 75, 77, 

80,94,98, 118, 129, 144, 146, 

148, 156, 160, 161, 199. 
Fort Stauwix, rumor of capture, 

81. 
Fort Phili]), 152. 
Fox's mills, 154, 181, 184. 
Frank, Fred., 215. 
Fry, Major, 188. 
Fultouville, N. Y., 166, 172. 



Gage's hill, 122. 

Galway, 181. 

Gausevoort, Col. Peter, 44, 101, 

109, 125, 132, 140, 147, 155, 

159. 
Gardinier's Flatts, 172. 
Garlock, John Christian, 116. 
Garoga creek, 82, 152. 
Garrisons of frontier post, 127. 
Garrison duty, irksomeness of, 

80. 
Gates, General, 57. 
Gebhard, John, Jr., 58. 
Germain, Lord, 68, 133. 
German Flatts, 21, 86, 65, 67, 

118, 119, 140, 210. 
GermautOAyn, 66. 
Gillet, Mr., 101. 
Glen. Henry, 102, 108, 107, 120, 

177, 186. 
Glen, H., letter to, from Col. 

Veeder, 102. 
Glen, town of, 173. 
Goodman, Dommas, 87. 
Granville, 142. 
Green, Gen., 97, 101; letter to, 

from Goy. Clinton, 96. 
Grog Bay, 128. 
Gros, Johan Daniel, 87. 
Gordon, James, 45, 46. 
Guilderland, 180. 



Haldimand, (-foyernor, 68, 64, 
133. 



Half .Moon Point, 28. 

Hall's Poughkeepsie Journal, 95. 

Hanoyer, K. H., 82. 

Hanson, Peter, 100. 

Harper, Capt. Alexander, 19. 

Harper, Col. John, 29, 166, 175, 

189, 190, 201 ; testimony of, 

165. 
Harper, William, 171. 
Harpersfield, 19, 22, 165, 210. 
Harris, William, 78. 
Harrison, N. Y., 164. 
Harvesting protected, 36, 85. 
Haughton, Major, 46, 134. 
Hay, Col. Udny, 118, 117, 141. 
Heath, General, 88, 150; letter 

to Gov. Clinton, 101 ; letter 

to, from Gov. Clinton, 147. 
Hebron, N. Y., 111. 
Hellebergh, 181. 
Helmcr, Adam, 215. 
Henderson, Capt., 154. 
Hendrick, Leonard, 78. 
Herter, Capt., 215. 
Herkimer, 28. 

Herkimer, Gen. Nicholas, 118. 
Hessians, 47. 
Hinsdale, Vt., 78. 
How, Artemas, 78. 
Huber, Capt., 215. 
Hughes, Major, 28, 42, 62, 89, 

146, 156. 



Jansen, Lt. Col. Johannis, 40, 70, 
78, 74. 

Jansen, Lt. Col. Johannis, letters 
of, 69, 71 ; letters to, 69, 71. 

Johnson, Sir John, 26, 27, 42, 47, 
48, 50, 51, 55, 57, 58, 62, 63, 
76, 89, 90, 98, 106, 118, 121, 
184, 185, 147, 154, 166, 
172, 180 ; rents due to, 213. 

Johnson, Sir William, 55, 179. 

Johnson, Sir William, place of, 
200. 

Johnston, W^illiam, 93. 

Johnstown, 18, 21, 23, 26, 28, 35, 
122, 154 ; memorial from, 88 ; 
Carleton said to be at, 108. 



Kaselman, John, 87. 
Katskill, 107. 
Keator's Pift, 55. 



INDEX. 



221 



Kelmau, George, 87. 
Keyser, Capt. John, 18. 
Killed antl wounded, 135, 136. 
Kinnsbury burnt, 43. 
Kiugsland district, (55, 210. 
Kingston, 97. 
Kirliman, James, 93. 
Klock, Col. Jacob I., 26, 87, 91. 
Kloclv, Col., letter to, from Sov. 

Clinton, 87, 126. 
Klock, Col., regiment of, 211, 

215. 
Klock's, Held battle of, 60. 
Klock's place, 60, 182. 
Klock's house, 191, 195, 196, 197, 
Knowlton, Mr., 79, 143. 



LaFayette, Maripus, 108. 

L'Hommedieu, Ezra, 146. 

Lairs, Hen rick, 87. 

Lairs, William, 87. 

Lake Champlain, 22, 27, 29, 96, 

109, 134, 42, 43, 76. 
Lalve George, 24,29, 30,45, 57, 

62, 93,l09. 
Lansing, Capt., 48. 
Lansing, John, Jr., 151, 165, 166, 

190 ; letter of, to Gov. Clin- 
ton, 107 ; testimony of, 198. 
Laurence, Capt. J. , Jr., letter of, to 

Col. S. Drake, 129. 
Legislature convened, 40. 
LeKoy, Mr., 186, 189. 
Levies for defense of frontiers, 

25. 
Leyp, Adam, 87. 
Lincoln, Gen., 57. 
Little Falls, 18. 
Livingston, Col., 44, 91, 97, 110, 

115, 123, 189, 
Livingston, Col. Henry, Jr., 117; 

letter to, from, Capt. Sher- 

■\vood, 99. 
Livingston, Peter, R., 117. 
Livingston, Robert, 146. 
Livingston, Gov. Wm., 81. 
Livingston, N. Y., 74. 
Losses of Tryon Co , table of, 

215. 
Loudon's Packet, article from, 

121. 
Louis, Col., 202. 
Lowville, N. Y., 58. 
Lush, Stephen, 91, 97; letter 

from, to Gov. Clinton, 89. 



McAlpin'sRegt., 136. 
McCrackeu, Major Joseph, 129. 
McCrea, Colonel, 27. 
McCrea, Dr. Stephen, 114. 
McDonald, Donald, incursion 

of, 37, 05. 
McDonald, a refugee, 45. 
McDougall,Gcn. Alexander, 146. 
McFarlan, Mr., 141. 
Macliin, Thomas, 157. 
McKinstrv, 3Iajor John, 173 ,174, 

182, i87. 
Malcom, Col. William, 36,72, 73, 
74, 89, 80, 91, 94, 97, 98, 129, 
157 ; letter of, to Gen. Van 
Rensselaer, 93. 
Massachusetts, Delegates from, 

75. 
Mayfield, 29. 
Memacatinge, 71. 
Memorial of citizens of Shenec- 
tady, 131 ; of supervisors of 
Tryon County, 209. 
Miami,*battle of, 130. 
Middleburgh, 21, 47, 48. 
Militia, oi'ganization of, 24 ; for 
guarding forts, 25, 30 ; rallied 
in pursuit, 29 ; sent u]) 
Mohawk Valley, 36 ; might 
be called out, 41 ; called out, 
43. 
Milford, N. Y., 171. 
]\[ills, Abraham, 141. 
Miuisink, 19, 73. 
]Mohawk District, 212. 
]\Iohawk Indians, 134. 
Monmouth, 148. 
Montreal, 26. 

Monument to Col. Brown, 58. 
Morris, Lewis R., 186, 197. 
Mortars, 42, 89, 157. 
i\Iount Deliance, 57. 
jNIount Independence, 57, 128. 
Muller, Capt., 48. 
Munro, Major John, 45, 46. 
Murphy, Timothy, 51, 52. 



Nash, Aaron, 79. 
Navigation of Mohawk, 38. 
Nepoueck, 73. 
Nestigiuna, 199. 
Nestigona, 178, 179. 
New Xlty, 23. 

New Hampshire, delegates from, 
75. 



222 



INDEX. 



New JI:uni)sliire (Jnuits, 29,539, 
79, !»S, 110, 144, 145. 

Ncwkirk, Col., loiter to Gov. Clin- 
ton, 7o. 

Newkirk, Jacob, 70, 74. 

Newkirk, letter to, from Gov. 
Clinton, 73 ; letter of Gov. 
Clin' on, to, 70. 

Newport, Freneh at, 75. 

Newtown, Battle of, 148. 

Newtown-Martin, 22, 210. 

Niagara, 31, 42, 8G, 89, 134, 135. 

Niskavuna 178. 

Niven's Kill, 70. 

Norman's Kill, settlements 
attacked, 35. 

Nose (See Anthony's Nose). 



O'Bail, 35. 

Ocquago, scout to, 77. 

Old-England District abandoned, 
210. 

Old Farms, 172. 

Oneida, 153, 154 ; enemy at, 33, 
89, 93; expedition by way 
of, 42. 

Oneida Castle, 23. 

Oneida Indians, 152, 190, 194, 
204 ; jealousy of, 18 ; faith- 
ful, 31 ; removed to Shenec- 
tady, 32, 141. 

Oneida Lake, expedition by way 
of, 47. 

Oneida settlements, rumored 
destruction of, 32. 

Orange County, 24 ; quotas, 90. 

Ordnance captured from enemy, 
121. 

Oriskanv, battle of, 118. 

Oswegafcliie, 188. 

Oswego, 02, 135. 



Palatine, 20, 28, 32, 116, 188. 

Palatine Bridge, 56. 

Panton, 128. 

Paris, Isaac, 33, 214. 

Patterson, Col. Eleazer, 71, 78; 
Letter of, to Gov. Clinton, 
77. 

Pawling, Col. Levi, 164. 

Pawling, Col. All)ert, 25, 70, 71, 
72; letter to, from Gov. Clin- 
ton, 72. 

Peasley, 131. 



Pellinger, Col., 67. 

Petition of citizens of Tryon Co., 

85. 
Pliillips, Major, 73. 
Pittstiekl, Mass., 57. 
Plattsburgh, 48. 
Poole, Capt., 48. 
Poughkeepsie, 40, 90, 90, 97, 

105. 
Prackness, 159. 

Pratt, Lt. Col. David, 187, 188. 
Prisoners, 17, 19, 154. 
Provisions, scarce, 90, 92, 94, 98, 

102, 117, 206; forwarded, 

112. 
Putnam's Point, 128, 145. 



Quebec, 133. 
Queensbury burnt, 44. 
Quotas, 99, 162; provided for, 
158. 



Ray, Mr , 143. 

Rayments Mills, 128. 

Recruiting for army, 41. 

Reinlistment of troops, 25. 

Reimensnyder's Bushi, 18. 

Rensselaer, Gen. See Van Rens- 
selaer. 

Rents due to Johnson and Butler, 
213. 

Rescue from torture, 174. 

Reward offered for a spy, 109. 

Ries, Rev. John Frederick, 116. 

Rivington's Gazette, quotation 
from, 91. 

Roof, Rev. Gerrit L., 58. 

Root, N. Y., 28. 

Roseboom, Capt., 194. 

Rosendal, 179. 

Rosie, John, 178. 

Russell, Ebenezer, letter to, from 
Gov. Clinton, 132. 



Sacondaga, 151 ; Block House, 

18. 
St. John, 30, 49, 122. 
St. Johnsville, GO, 133. 
St. Regis, 173. 
Saffbrd, Col., 122. 
Salem, N. Y., 127, 132. 
Saratoga, 23, 70, 109, 114, 115, 

123. 



INDEX. 



223 



Scarcity, complaints of, 211, 212, 
2(51. 

Schenectady, 23, 27, 100, 107, 
110, 140, 144, 148, 151, 155, 
171, 172, 177, 185, 180, 187, 
192, 199, 200; troops rallied 
at, 29; Indians at, 32; expedi- 
tion intended for, 45; troops 
arrive at, 53 ; meeting of 
citizens of, 54 ; memorial of, 
131. 

Schoharie, 23, 109, 127, 144, 151, 
157, 177, 200 ; forts described, 
24, 47; troops at, 27; at- 
tacked, 19, 47, 49, 102, 105 ; 
fires seen at Schenectady, 53. 

Schoharie Conrt Honse, 49. 

Schoharie Kill, 151. 

Schoonhoven, Colonel, 27. 

Schuyler, Gen. Philip, 82, 105, 
109, 114, 123, 145, 105; or- 
dered in a certain case to 
arrest Allen, 39; notifies 
appearance of enemy, 42 ; 
• letter to, from Gov. Clinton, 
82, 105, 125 ; letter of, to Gov. 
Clinton, 123, 140. 

Schuyler, Col. Philip P., 107, 113. 

Schuyler, Col. Stephen I., 106, 
115. 

Schuyler, Major, 186. 

Schuyler's Regt., 105, 106. 

Sconondo, 31. 

Scotch tories, 21. 

Scott, George G., 45. 

Scott, Gen. John Morin, 146. 

Seger, Henry, 78. 

Settlements, extent of, in 1780, 
21 ; broken up, 27. 

Shawangunk, 40, 09, 71. 

Shell, John Christian, 37, 05. 

Sherwood, Capt. Adiel, 43, 89, 
93, 99, 101, 122, 123; letter 
of, to Col. H. Livingston, 99. 

Sherwood, Mrs., 101. 

Shoemaker, Rudolph, 215. 

Shoemaker's, 197, 207. 

Shoemaker's Land, 120. 

Sidney's Mills, 103, 100, 107. 

Simms, J. R., 53, 70 

Skeenesborough, 18, 21, 23,24, 26, 
57, 128, 143, 150. 

Sloansville, 103. 

Smicht, Robert, 215. 

Smith, John, 23. 

Smith, Joshua H., 157. 



Smith, Seth, 78. 

Smith, JMr., 79. 

Smyth, Dr. George, 100. 

Snell, John, 87. 

Snyder, Jacob, 141. 

Snyder, Col. Johannis, 113. 

South Bay, 43. 

Southern Campaign, 163. 

Sprakers, 55. 

Springfield, 22, 210. 

Spy at Johnstown, 101. 

Staats, Col. B. I., 113, 200; letter 
of, to Gov. Clinton, 106. 

Staring, Capt., 215. 

Stone Arabia, 27, 32, 33, 42, 56, 
57, 58, 59, 89, 94, 115, 135, 
136, 144, 173, 188, 203. 

Stone Aral)ia Patent, 116. 

Stone Ridge, 173. 

Stone, William L., 26. 

Stouteuburgh, Isaac, letter of, 
to Gov. Clinton, 112. 

Sullivan, General, 17, 148. 

Supervisors of Try on Co., me- 
morial of, 209. 

Supplies for army, 160, 161. 

Susquehannah 2i, 47, 05, 154. 

Swartwout, Gen. Jacobus, 164, 
208. 



Taxes in kind, 38, 41, 83, 90. 
Ten Broeck, Gen. Abraham, 18, 

27, 42, 82, 90, 92, 93, 105, 100, 

113, 131, 147, 155, 159 ; letter 

of, to Gov. Clinton, 113, 114, 

142, 150. 
Ten Broeck, Dirck, 113. 
Ten Eyck, Lt. Abraham, 80. 
Thomfis, Col., 104. 
Ticonderoga, 57, 116, 124. 
Tioga routes, party by way of, 

47. 
Tories, 21, 20, 29, 125, 141. 
Trail of enemy lost, 193, 197, 207. 
Treachery of Vermont people 

suspected, 39. 
Treasure of Sir John Johnson, 

29. 
Treat, Dr. Malachi, 114. 
Trenton, N. Y., 48. 
Tribe's Hill, 28. 
Tryon County, 24; troops sent 

to, 27 ; petition from, 42, 85 ; 

letter of citizens of, to Gov. 

CHnton, 83; 



224 



INDEX. 



Tryon County ; quota, 00 ; hri- 
giide, 91 ; nienioriiil of super- 
visors, 209 ; table of losses in, 
21.'). 

Tujihtenundu Tlill, 201. 

Tuscarora Indians, 31. 



Ulster County, 24; quotas, 90. 
Unadilla, scout to, 77. 



Van Alstyne, Col., 178. 

Van Alstyne, Cornelius, 174. 

Van Alstyne's Regt., 205. 

Van Bergen, Col. Anthony, 113. 

Van Bunsclioten, Major Elias, 
130, 170. 

Van Dresen, James, 44, 124. 

Van Eps, 1C5, 173, 187, 201. 

Van Ess, Col., 174. 

Vanetta, Samuel, 87. 

Van Rensselaer, Henry K., 25. 

Van Horne, Rev. Abraham, 58. 

Van Rensselaer, Jacob Rutsen, 
105. 

Van Rensselaer, Gen. Robert, 
32, 33, 30, 42, 51, 53 to 56, 
59 to 61, 82, 92, 94, 95, 104, 
107, 109, 130, 138, 152, 159, 
107 to 186, 191, 194 to 205, 
208; letter to, from Col. 
Malcom, 93; Gov. Clinton, 
76, 95 ; Col. Louis Dubois, 
118; letter of, to Gov. Clin- 
ton, 94,103, 115,117; Gen. 
Court of Inquirjr on, 164; 
notice of, 104. 

Van Rensselaer, Stephen, 113. 

Van Schaick, Col. G., 23, 27, 29, 
30, 81, 97, 102 ; letter of, to 
Gov. Clinton, 67, 79, 81. 

Van Schaick, Lt. G. W., testi- 
mony of, 194. 

Van Veghten, Adjutant, 176. 

Van Woert, Col., 27, 142, 143, 
150; letter of, to Gen. Ten 
Broeck, 142. 

Veeder, Lt. Col. Volkert, 49, 53, 
104, 177; letter of, to II. 
Glen, 102. 

Vermont affairs, 38, 39, 77, 78, 145. 

Virginia, 163. 

Vrooman, C:ipt. Walter, 65, 130, 

Vrooman, Colonel, 29, 127, 142, 
153. 



Vrooman's Land, 47. 



Wallace, William, 188, 201. 
Walrath, John, 110, 168. 
Warrant for im])risonment, 120. 
Warriner, Samuel, 78. 
Warner, Colonel, 29, 122. 
Warner's Regiment, 122. 
Warren, Sir Peter, 172. 
Warren, N. Y. 119. 
Warrensbush, 172. 
Washington, Gen., 30, 36, 39, 79, 

96,98,102,105,106,108,145; 

letter to, from Gov. Clinton, 

74, 97; letter of, to Gov. 

Clinton, 151, 157, 159. 
Watson, Capt. James, 67. 
Webster, Col. Alexander, 111, 

141, 142 ; letter of, to Gov. 

Chnton, 128. 
Weissenfels, Col., 140, 147, 148, 

149, 155, 100. 
Wemple,Col. Abraham, 120,131, 

142. 
West Canada Creek, 23. 
Westchester County, 24 ; quotas, 

90. 
West Point, 63, 64, 96, 160. 
Wheelock, Rev. Mr., 82. 
Whitinc:, Col., 82. 
Whhe Creek, 110, 128, 140, 143 ; 

enemy near, 105, 124. 
Whitehall, 21. 
White Plains, 148. 
Whitin":, Colonel, 60, 169, 182, 

lOL 
Williams, Col. John, 111. 
Williger, 171. 
Willow Basin, 54. 
Windsor, X. Y., 77. 
Woestvne, 187. 
Wolrod's ferry, 175, 194, 198. 
Wood, Sergeant Wm., 172. 
Woodbridge, Col., 157. 
Woodward, Solomon, 19. 
Woolsev, jMajor Melancton L., 

48, "51, 104,109,200. 
Wyoming, 17. 



Yale, Major, 174. 

Yates, Col. Christopher P., 20,27. 



Zielley, Capt. John, 59, 87 



